Prioritise Mumbai Nashik highway repairs: Minister Dada Bhuse

THANE: Public works minister Dada Bhuse, Wednesday, has set a strict eight-day deadline for the authorities in Thane to streamline the traffic movement on the arterial Mumbai-Nashik highway and ensure ongoing infrastructure works don't affect the safe and fast movement of traffic, officials informed.
Bhuse took a review of the highway works at Thane, Wednesday morning along with senior Thane traffic, police and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials where he issued guidelines to them along with a warning of disciplinary action in case motorists continued to face potholes and snarls on the highway.
“The minister instructed teams to repair potholes and damaged stretches of the Nashik highway and expedite ongoing works of bridges, underpasses among others. In addition, he directed officials to ensure vehicles observed lane discipline and heavy vehicle entry was scheduled into Thane city limits to avoid overlapping with city traffic. Additional police manpower will be deployed on these stretches to minimise inconvenience to motorists,” informed a district official.
It may be noted the 120km long highway connecting Nashik with Thane- Mumbai has been in the news for massive traffic congestion for the last several years. The roughly 23 km long stretch between Vadape and Majiwada is presently being widened from four to 12 lanes including services roads by MSRDC leading to congestion at certain points.
The issue was highlighted after an influential retired bureaucrat recently got stuck for hours leading chief minister Eknath Shinde to direct officials to take immediate cognisance.