150-m wall to be built along freeway

In order to restrict people residing along the Eastern Freeway from entering it, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will construct a concrete wall on either side of the 150-metre stretch at Panjarpol.

In order to restrict people residing along the c from entering it, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will construct a concrete wall on either side of the 150-metre stretch at Panjarpol.

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The freeway, which is mostly an elevated road, runs at ground-level for about 500 metres near the Panjarpol
tunnel.

Incidentally, about 150 metres of this stretch is flanked by buildings that were built for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers, who were evicted for MMRDA projects in the past.

To help people residing in the area cross the freeway safely, the MMRDA had already planned to build a foot over-bridge (FOB) there.

However, since MMRDA fears that people may end up not using the FOB, they will also be building two-metre-high concrete walls on either side of the stretch.
“Learning from past experiences, we fear that the people will not use FOB and instead try to reach the other side by walking or running across. In addition to this, we have also found children playing on the freeway,” said a senior MMRDA official on the condition of anonymity.

“To prevent any untoward accident because of human interference, have also decided to build the wall near the Panjarpol tunnel,” said the official.
The planning authority is expected to start construction of the concrete walls soon as the part of the freeway from Orange Gate to Panjarpol, which is near completion, is made open for public use by the end of May.