Police seek survey on Sion-Panvel road

MUMBAI: Navi Mumbai police commissioner Javed Ahmed has sought a joint traffic police-PWD survey of the Rs 1,250-crore Sion Panvel highway widening project. Work is scheduled to start in April and is to last at least three years.

The police want to create a diversion map to facilitate the easy flow of vehicles headed for Pune and Goa, besides ensuring the routine flow of intra-Mumbai traffic. The commissioner came up with the plan for the survey following a presentation by representatives of the joint venture of the construction firms IVRCL and Kakade Infrastructure Private Limited. Traffic police officers were not much impressed by the diversion plans.

Ahmed told TOI the survey is a must for drawing up the diversion map because the flow of traffic is quite heavy at places. He said the study would last about a week, following which a meeting will be held. "The widening of the road is important and we would like to cooperate. The plan we draw up should be agreeable to all stakeholders. Because when the work is undertaken, no one should be inconvenienced."