Nashik traffic movement towards Kathegalli and Nashik Road has received a temporary boost with the opening of a new lane from Dwarka junction to Kathegalli signal, although heavy goods and transport vehicles remain barred from using the stretch during ongoing grade separator construction.
The lane is intended for light vehicles, including cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers. Its opening gives motorists an alternative route after the closure of Dwarka junction forced vehicles travelling from Nashik city towards Nashik Road to take a longer diversion through Mumbai Naka.
According to a report by Times of India – Nashik, the diversion had increased pressure on the Mumbai Naka–Kathegalli stretch, creating bottlenecks for commuters. The road is also being used by vehicles travelling between important parts of the city, making traffic management more difficult while construction work continues at Dwarka.
Authorities had earlier opened a narrow lane from Kathegalli signal towards Dwarka for cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers travelling towards Mumbai Naka. The junction was subsequently opened for straight traffic between Mumbai and Dhule. The latest traffic arrangement creates a route in the opposite direction, from Dwarka towards Kathegalli.
The traffic branch has restricted heavy goods and transport vehicles from the newly opened lane. However, medium-sized trucks have reportedly been seen using the stretch alongside cars and two-wheelers. The restriction is intended to keep the temporary route usable for light vehicles while work on the grade separator continues.
Daily commuters cited by the report said the Mumbai Naka–Kathegalli road remains heavily congested because of large vehicles, narrow lanes, speed breakers, potholes and sections that have remained dug up for more than a year. Motorists can now travel from Mumbai Naka towards Dwarka and use the new lane to reach Kathegalli, potentially avoiding some of the most congested portions of the existing route.
A further connection is also planned between Dwarka and Sarda Circle. Once opened, the small connecting road is expected to allow light vehicles coming from Nashik Road to travel directly towards Shalimar and the Central Bus Stand area from Dwarka, without passing through Mumbai Naka.
Senior officials from the city traffic branch told the Times of India that work on the Dwarka grade separator is progressing rapidly. They said the entire junction is expected to be opened to all traffic within a few months. Until then, commuters will continue to depend on temporary lanes and traffic restrictions around the construction site.
