Will fix Mumbai-Nashik highway in 15 days: Eknath Shinde

THANE: A battered stretch of Mumbai-Nashik highway which motorists say causes inconvenience will be repaired within a fortnight, urban development minister Eknath Shinde who is also guardian minister of Thane district, said on Saturday. The opposition and allied political parties had recently mounted pressure on the government for the pathetic condition of the arterial road.
“We have issued stern warnings to ensure work is up to the mark and also ordered an audit of previously executed works,” he said.
Motorists complained of several stretches, including those on xKasheli and Kalwa bridges, have major damage, causing vehicles to crawl to avoid mishaps. Bhiwandi resident Puneet Khimasiya who travels to Ghatkopar regularly says it is an arduous commute. He said that a roughly 10km distance on the arterial highway which initially took barely 20 minutes to cross now takes at least 2.5 hours to cross due to potholes.
The Majiwada-Wadape stretch of the highway, also a part of the xMumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi corridor, is maintained by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) while the part beyond is under National Highway Authority of India, said officials.
G Sharma, who claimed to be a regular commuter, tweeted how he walked down to Kharegaon in 3.5 hours and still reached faster than his stranded cab.
Joint MD at the MSRDC, Anil Gaikwad, said, “We have identified the problem points and are coordinating with the traffic department to take repair blocks on the route and temporarily fix potholes.”