Eastern Freeway like projects will make a world class city

– says Chief Minister

13.59-km Toll free Eastern Freeway inaugurated

Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister take a joyride on the Freeway

Mumbai, June 13, 2013 – “The mega projects such as Eastern Freeway will make Mumbai a world class city. More importantly, the Eastern Freeway is toll-free”, said Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of State, after inaugurating the 13.59-km long stretch of the Eastern Freeway today. “The Freeway will not only serve Mumbaikars and change their way of commuting, but it will also showcase the pathway to infrastructural growth of the State of ”, said the Chief Minister further.

The Chief Minister further underlined the need for a “total development” of the city and said, “The projects such as Metro-Mono Rails, Sahar Elevated Road, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road are the key to making Mumbai a world class city and the State Government is striving hard to achieve the goal”.

The Deputy Chief Minister Mr.Ajit Pawar also promised to render special succor to infrastructure projects. He said, “As the Finance Minister of the State I promise to back all the projects already undertaken and will be undertaken in future for the development of the city and the State. We are also striving hard to secure financial aid from the Central Government for the projects that are being implemented by the MMRDA”. Mr.Ajit Pawar also welcomed the “toll-free” Freeway and urged the media to not only criticize but also write a few good words for the government.

The construction for the entire 13.59-km long first part of the Eastern Freeway – including the 4.3-km Anik-Panjarpol Link Road – has been completed by using 16 lakh cement bags, 32,000 metric tones of steel, 3346 girders and 2,600-km long high tension steel strand besides many other niceties. The numbers afford perspective to the volume of construction required to create the first part of the Eastern Freeway. “This freeway symbolizes fructification of dedicated efforts from more than 2000 workers and about a hundred engineers from the contractors, project management consultants and MMRDA”, said Mr.UPS Madan, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

The Eastern Freeway Project is a 16.4-km fast and additional corridor to connect the island city and the . It runs from Orange Gate to Anik-Panjarpol Link Road and further up to . It is divided in three parts – One, the corridor from Orange Gate to the beginning of Anik-Panjarpol Link Road (9.29-km); Two, the corridor from Anik to the beginning of Panjarpol-Ghatkopar Link Road (4.3-km) and Three, Panjarpol to Ghatkopar (2.81-km). The Authority is striving hard to complete the Panjarpol-Ghatkopar Link Road as soon as possible.

“The Eastern Freeway is the second longest elevated road in an urban setting in our country. The elevated road with its Part-2 (APLR) and Part-3 (PGLR) completes the Eastern Freeway as contemplated by all the transport strategy studies for Mumbai. Being the near complete length of Eastern Freeway, it is certain to have the most profound impact on the way the city commutes. It would decongest Sion, and Dadar areas significantly”, said the Metropolitan Commissioner further.

The project throws up a few highlights that will make motorists happy. While the 9.29- km long Part-I and 2.81-km long Part-III are completely elevated, the 4.3-km long second part of this project showcases 550-meter long twin tunnel. This is the first urban twin tunnel of the country. There is also a 400-meter long flyover at Naka and a small 40-meter jump-over to cross the RCF junction on the Anik-Panjarpol Link Road.

This signal free and fast corridor will provide connectivity to Island city with the Eastern suburbs and also improve traffic woes predominantly in areas of Chembur, Sion, Dadar etc. The thousands of commuters traveling from towards -Nashik and Panvel-Pune-Goa will not only save time but also save invaluable fuel.

Present on the occasion were Shri Mohd.Arif Naseem Khan, Hon. Minister for Textile and Guardian Minister, Mumbai, Suburban District; Hon.Minister for Cooperation Mr.Harshwardhan Patil; Hon. Minister of State for Housing, Mr.Sachin Ahir; Shri Sunil Prabhu, Hon. Mayor, Mumbai; Shri Eknath Gaikwad, Hon. MP; Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Hon.MP; Hon. MLAs – Shri Kalidas Kolambkar, Shri Nawab Malik, Shri Chandrakant Handore, Shri Madhukar Chavan, Shri Jagannath Shetty, Shri Amin Patel, Mr.Prakash Shedge, Hon.MLCs Ms.Alka Desai, Mr.Prakash Binsale, Prof.Janardan Chandurkar, President, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee; MMRDA’s Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Mr.SVR Srinivas along with other senior MMRDA. officials were present. (Ends)