Heavy vehicles still hold sway on Ghodbunder Rd

Flyover construction prompted curbs, cops claim to have booked violators

Contrary to the claims of traffic police, residents of Ghodbunder Road have alleged that traffic and heavy-axle vehicles are passing along this road blatantly, since the work on the three flyovers on the stretch began.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) undertook the construction of three flyovers on Kapurbavdi Junction, Majiwada and Patlipada around six months ago. This, the residents believe, has led to a major disruption of traffic along the stretch.
Taking the hassles faced by the residents into account, the Thane traffic police disallowed the passage of multi-axle and heavy vehicles on Ghodbunder Road in the day time. “Traffic police claim that they have banned the movement of heavy vehicles here. But that is not true,” said Mohnish Acharya, resident of Ghodbunder Road.
As per the data provided by the Thane Traffic Police, close to 700 vehicles pass through Ghodbunder Road every hour. The entry for heavy vehicles such as containers, trailers and tankers has been restricted in the TMC limits from Gaimukh Octroi Naka from 7am to 10pm. For all four-wheeler goods vehicles, the entry is banned from 7am to 1pm and 5pm to 10 pm.
Bhagyashree Bhagwat, a resident, added, “The point is authorities are callous.”
Though the residents are miffed with the callous attitude of the civic body, the authorities beg to differ. Sudhir Dabhade, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Thane, said, “Traffic scenario has been brought under control. At times, people mistake a truck or tempo for a heavy vehicle, but so is not the case.”
“Dumpers and vehicles carrying cement too move along this stretch, but their movement cannot be restricted taking the nature of the work into account,” he added.
The traffic police claim that 80% of heavy and multi-axle vehicles follow this norm while those who flout the law have to pay a penalty. More than 600 cases have been registered against vehicles who fail to abide by time limit.