Soon, expect pothole-free ride to Shreeram Chowk in Kalyan

The UMC’s decision to surface the road with asphalt has infuriated residents, who wanted concrete used instead

Motorists taking Shreeram Chowk in Kalyan (East) can soon expect a smooth ride as the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) plans to repair a 95-metre, accident-prone stretch of Pune Link road within two months.

Work to repair Shreeram Chowk starts.(RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY/HT)

Hindustan Times on Sunday reported how the crumbled road had turned into a killer stretch owing to potholes. The UMC’s decision to surface the road with asphalt has infuriated residents who demanded that it instead use concrete for durability.

“We have initiated the work for asphalting the 95-metre Shreeram Chowk portion. It will be completed in two months. The civic body does not have plans to concretise the portion. The asphalted road will have a three-year guarantee,” said Tarun Shevkhani, deputy engineer of UMC.

Pune Link road connects Kalyan to Ulhasnagar, Badlapur and Ambernath.

Although the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is concretising the road, repairs at Shreeram chowk come under the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC). Around 50,000 vehicles take the road daily. According to the traffic police records, around 40 minor accidents had taken place at the chowk in the past three months.

Earlier this month, three people died in a drink-driving accident at Shreeram Chowk. However, shopkeepers and residents claimed the incident took place owing to the bad condition of the road.

“The road is being asphalted by the civic authorities. It will provide relief to bikers and motorists. The repair will also reduce dust pollution,” said Prema Mahtre, 34, resident of Vitthalwadi in Kalyan (East).

Three roads intersect the chowk: one leads to Vitthalwadi, which is part of the 3-km Pune Link road and two other roads lead to Ulhasnagar. While 90% of Pune Link road in Kalyan (East) has been concretised, the remainder parts near Vithalwadi cemetery and Shreeram chowk are yet to see the light of the day.

The UMC is spending Rs75 lakh for asphalting Shreeram chowk. Currently, one side of the road at the chowk is filled with stones for surfacing. This has, however, raised questions on why the road is not being concretised but asphalted.

“The Pune Link road was supposed to be concretised. The asphalted road will again develop potholes in the monsoon and trouble bikers and motorists,” said Mandar Shetty, 26, a biker who takes the chowk to reach Ulhasnagar from Kalyan.