27 November,2016 08:32 AM IST | | Gaurav Sarkar
Eastern end left of Balasaheb Thackeray flyover connecting Jogeshwari and Vikhroli left in the dark for over a week, raising safety concerns
Streetlights near the eastern landing of Balasaheb Thackeray flyover have gone kaput. Pic/Rane Ashish
When the Balasaheb Thackeray flyover connecting Jogeshwari and Vikhroli was opened in September last year, it aimed at reducing the traffic burden on the Western Express Highway (WEH). In just over a year, the rail overbridge has become a nightmare for motorists.
Dhaval Shah, a resident of Lokhandwala, and Karishma Bangera of Andheri warn that a disaster is waiting to happen on the stretch
Streetlights at its eastern end have not been functioning for over a week. Oncoming traffic from the WEH, heading for SV Road, has to grapple with pitch darkness in the night till the top of the flyover. Streetlights on the way down to the western end, though, are operational.
Dhaval Shah, a resident of Lokhandwala, said the entry point from the WEH is already in a mess. "There is a divider installed for the service road. There is no reflective sticker to warn motorists and now, no streetlights have made matters worse.."
Karishma Bangera, a resident of Andheri, said the issue has raised safety concerns as well. "There are shanties on the footpath next to the alighting point, where nearly 100 people sleep. It's possible that drivers could fail to see them in the dark."
BMC Speaks
"The flyover comes under the jurisdiction of both K West and K East wards," said SP Kori, chief engineer (bridges). "The lights on the eastern end keep flickering and turn off in the evenings owing to an electrical issue. I have alerted the ward officer about it."
