Link Road project: work on unfinished patch begins

Finally, work on the patch between Gandhinagar Junction and IIT Powai on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road...

Finally, work on the patch between Gandhinagar Junction and IIT Powai on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road JVLR has begun after the land was handed over to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation MSRDC.

According to the sources, most of the work on JVLR project has been completed except the patch between Gandhi Nagar and IIT junction, and extension of the bridge over railway tracks between Kanjur Marg and Vikhroli.

Undertaken by the MMRDA at the cost of Rs 187.33 crore, the JVLR project is one of the most important ones as it connects the eastern suburbs to the western. The MRSDC is executing the project.

The work on this patch was on hold as commercial establishments, including a Gurudwara, were reluctant to hand over their land for the development work. 8220;The land was handed over to the MSRDC in phases over a period of two years. The Gurudwara land and the IIT land was handed over recently,8221; said Milind Mhaiskar, joint Metropolitan commissioner, who is also the project director of the MUTP.

8220;The work has started on the road but the MMRDA is yet to hand over the entire patch to MSRDC as 10-12 commercial establishments opposite the IIT have not yet given their nod for the land. The MMRDA is negotiating with them,8221; said S B Nage, chief engineer of MSRDC, in-charge of the JVLR. 8220;If that happens, we expect to complete the work by the end of May,8221; added Nage.

8220;We are hopeful of reaching to a consensus over removing these establishments in next 15 days,8221; added Mhaiskar.

8220;The work on the bridge extension should be completed by March end as it is in its final stages. The piers have been erected between the railway tracks and the slabs would be laid soon,8221; added Nage.

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But till the completion of the project, motorists are facing a tough time. 8220;The stretch between Powai and Gandhinagar becomes a bottle neck in the peak hours. To avoid this, we have stopped heavy vehicles on this road during peak hours,8221; said Vasant Karande, senior police inspector of Saki Nakar traffic police stationnbsp;

Why JVLR is important to city?
For people staying between Vikhroli and Thane, this road proves to be an important means of travel from western suburbs like Andheri, Goregaon and beyond that. Several BEST buses departing from Mulund for the western suburbs use this road. This in turn reduces load of other important roads of the city by dividing the traffic