Ghodbunder Road repairs scheduled for September 10 and 11 have been postponed after the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation was denied traffic police permission to take up the work during Ganeshotsav, leaving motorists to use the deteriorated route as festival travel increases across the Thane region.
The civic body had sought permission to carry out repairs on the Ghodbunder Ghat section from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. The traffic department rejected the request because roadwork during the festival period was expected to add to congestion, according to information reported by Loksatta and attributed to the Kashimira traffic branch.
The Ghodbunder route connects Thane city with Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Borivali and Palghar. Thousands of residents from these areas were expected to use the road while travelling towards the Konkan region for Ganeshotsav. Authorities expressed concern that restricting or slowing traffic for repair work during this period could have a direct effect on vehicle movement.
The decision means that motorists will continue to use the damaged Ghodbunder Ghat road during the festival travel period. The road had been repaired by the Mira-Bhayandar civic administration after a break in the monsoon, and repairs had also been undertaken earlier. The municipality has now decided to postpone the latest work after the traffic police declined permission.
Repeated repair activity on the route has led to dissatisfaction among commuters, according to the report. The latest decision follows concerns about both the road’s condition and the effect of carrying out repairs on a corridor that serves traffic moving between several urban and suburban areas.
Pramod Wagh, police inspector with the Kashimira traffic branch of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police, said the repair work had been deferred for technical reasons and that a fresh meeting would be held to decide the next date. The police department’s position, as reported, was that work during the proposed dates could directly affect traffic management because of the expected festival movement.
The municipal corporation had planned to begin the work on Thursday and Friday, but the permission issue has pushed the schedule forward. A new repair date will be fixed after discussions between the civic administration and the traffic authorities. Until then, the Ghodbunder route will remain in use without the newly proposed repair work.
