Panvel flyover to be ready in June

MUMBAI: With Panvel gradually becoming populous, commute in the area had turned into a nightmare, with the roads not being able to accommodate the heavy flow of traffic. But from June, the usual snarls are likely to be eased after a 1.5-km-long flyover is thrown open to the public, helping not only residents of the area but also those taking the NH5 or the old Mumbai-Pune road to Pune.This is also likely to come as a big help once the new airport in Panvel is constructed.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the implementing authority of the project, has spent Rs 140 crore to build the 17-metre-wide four-lane flyover. With two lanes—each meant for the up and down traffic—the bridge starts at Ashoka Lawn and ends about 300 metres ahead of the junction at Gandhi Hospital. Joint project director of MMRDA said, “Commuters face frequent jams on the particular road that passes through Panvel city. The stretch has a bus depot as well as a bus stand and the number of vehicles using those facilities add to the traffic, leading to snarls. We hope the flyover will help commuters have a smooth ride now.”
The bridge is also attached with two approach roads on both ends; vehicles coming from the New Panvel Junction on one side and Ambedkar Junction on the other can take these 5.5-metre-wide ramps to get onto the flyover.