Peddar Road work to resume on May 2,with least hiccups

Earlier,the north-bound traffic was closed and one had to take the Maharshi Karve Marg from Churchgate station,Pandita Ramabai Marg from Wilson College and P D’Mello Road to reach suburbs. The new plan will exclude Walkeshwar Road and BG Kher Marg.

There are a total of eight sewer manholes on a 240-metre stretch which needs to be repaired and a new sewer line will be laid. Officials said that the last digging spot will be at Gamadia manhole so as to avoid traffic chaos. Work on around 45 metres of stretch is already completed during the repair last time.

“This time the diversions have been minimised and it will cause only less inconvenience to people. In the previous traffic plan,there was a greater loop but this time it has been taken care of,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev. The BMC will also be publishing advertisements in newspapers detailing the traffic diversion and give enough publicity to the plan to create awareness and reduce chaos during the work.

The civic administration will also be providing car parking facilities to the residents of Peddar Road near Mahalaxmi race course and a parking space near the Mahalaxmi temple.

The work for replacement of 130-year-old pipelines was started on March 28. However,a day after starting the work,since some VIPs and politicians,who opted for the route,were inconvenienced due to the traffic congestion,Chief Minister Ashok Chavan complained to the BMC,which in turn,stalled the work.

The civic administration had earlier proposed a trenchless method to replace the sewer lines. However,the plan was dropped owing to higher cost and long administrative process for approval.

The BMC had also decided to explore the option of Bailey bridge—a pre-fabricated bridge which can be unfolded for traffic up to 200 metre—-and carry out the work beneath it. However,this option too was rejected due to its non- feasibility.