‘Build pedestrian bridges, ban heavy vehicles’ : Hindustan Times

THANE: Eighty percent of the congestion problem at Kalwa junction will be resolved if authorities bar entry for heavy vehicles and impose strict penalties on illegally parked vehicles and autorickshaws at the junction, according to transport experts in Thane.

Engineer Satyajit Shah, who has been working on the issue of traffic congestion at the Kalwa junction for more than three years, said the junction is in dire need of a foot overbridge for pedestrians.

“There are several problems ailing the junction. The lack of foot overbridges has added to the problem. Pedestrians have to cross a l arge stretch of the road by dodging heavy traffic,” Shah said.

A traffic signal is the need of the hour to bring some order at this chaotic junction, he said.

At times, the line of vehicles stuck in traffic extends from the junction, all the way to Saket and the Thane Central Jail during peak hours.

“Another problem is the haphazardly parked municipal, as well as private buses on one of the two lanes of the road — the area one would encounter after taking a right from the Old Kalwa bridge,” Shah said.

“There are autorickshaws also parked here, leading to the bunching up of vehicles, which are now forced to move in a single lane. These bus stops and auto stands should be shifted by 150m to 100m towards the ThaneBelapur Road,” he added.

Vikrant Tawade, who had f iled a public interest litigation in the Bombay high court (HC) in 2006, said the court’s order to ban heavy vehicles from the junction should be implemented immediately.

“In 2008, the court had asked the traffic department to shut the junction for heavy vehicles. Although the traffic department has closed the junction during the morning and evening peak hours, it has not been able to stop the movement trucks and other heavy vehicles completely,” Tawade said.

He suggested that a four-foot high barrier be installed at the Saket lane — the route that is popularly used by the heavy vehicles.

Such a barrier has been installed at the Thane station to stop buses and trucks from entering the station area.

“Most local trucks are headed to the Jambli naka market. If the market is shifted to a reserved plot at another location, trucks will not have to enter the city at all,” Tawade said.

Another flaw with the planning of the junction is that the dividers from the roads leading to it end too close to the junction, therefore crowding the circle.

“Shifting t hem a little f urther behind will ensure the smooth flow of traffic at the junction, Tawade said.

Tawade pointed out that the high court suggested the setting up of a traffic monitoring committee.

“The court had also advised a traffic monitoring committee to be set up to study the Kalwa junction and work out specific solutions to ease the congestion,” said Tawade.