Times of India: Nasik: Monday,
April 28, 2014.
The National
Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has instructed its build operate transfer
(BOT) concessionaires PNG Tollways Pvt Ltd to put up suggestion boards at the
entries of the elevated corridor to prohibit pedestrians from taking the
flyover.
The NHAI
instructed the BOT concessionaires after the use of the elevated corridor by
pedestrians was pointed out by a resident of the city in a Right To Information
(RTI) filed by him to know if the highways authority was aware that the
elevated carriageways were use by people for morning and evening walks; and if
so what were the steps taken by the department to prevent the use of elevated structures
on the Mumbai-Agra Highway.
In reply to
the RTI, the NHAI said no footpaths were provided on the elevated corridor and
hence pedestrians should not walk on it. The NHAI also said that the flyover
was only for through traffic and, accordingly, signages showing prohibition of
use of motorcycle, rickshaw and bullock carts were installed on the ramps. The
NHAI said that as per the suggestion of the RTI applicant, the suggestion
boards showing prohibition of pedestrians would be put up.
The RTI applicant,
who did not want his name to be published, said walking on the elevated
corridor was dangerous as vehicles passing by the city through the elevated
corridor were driven in high speed and the presence of pedestrians on the
flyover meant chances of accident. il Pawar, a resident of the Cidco area,
said, "The menace of pedestrians on the elevated corridor was not that
serious as only a few people were seen at times taking a walk on the flyover.
However, as a precautionary measure, the prohibition is necessary for
pedestrians."
Ahead of the
inauguration of the flyover on June 14 last year, the city police had issued a
notification that the elevated corridor from Indiranagar to Meenatai Thackeray
stadium was banned for two-wheelers and rickshaws. But hours after the
inauguration, two bikers had sneaked their way on to the flyover to perform
some stunt and died following a collision with some another bikers.
Gantry at
Garware Point
In view of
the constant confusion of motorists coming from the Mumbai side on whether to
take the flyover or the service road, the NHAI would takeg up the work of
constructing a gantry at Garware point on which a signboard about the road to
be taken for different directions would be installed.
Officials of
the BOT concessionaries said that it was observed that a large number of people
who want to go the Ambad area, Pathardi Phata, ended up taking the flyover at
the Garware point and descended only at near the Indirangar jogging track,
which was at least 4 km from the road to Ambad. Similarly, some who are not
able to determine if there is an access to the city or not after taking the
flyover from the said point, preferred using the service road, even when they
can descend the ramp at Indiranagar and Dwarka.
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