top of page

By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Palm Beach Road may get flyovers

Navi Mumbai: The arterial Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai could see the construction of flyovers at key junctions to ease persistent traffic congestion, with Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailash Shinde agreeing to explore the proposal for creating signal-free movement for through traffic. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Dr Shinde and representatives of Climate Action Now (CAN) for MMR, a platform of NatConnect Foundation, and Palm Beach Greens on Friday evening....

Palm Beach Road may get flyovers

Navi Mumbai: The arterial Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai could see the construction of flyovers at key junctions to ease persistent traffic congestion, with Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailash Shinde agreeing to explore the proposal for creating signal-free movement for through traffic. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Dr Shinde and representatives of Climate Action Now (CAN) for MMR, a platform of NatConnect Foundation, and Palm Beach Greens on Friday evening. The initiative follows representations made by the BJP legislator Adv Niranjan Davkhare and CAN seeking measures to address growing traffic snarls on the important north-south corridor. NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar and Palm Beach Greens convenor D Shrikant Patki explained that strategically placed flyovers could allow through traffic to bypass several signals, reducing waiting time at intersections and preventing the cascading build-up of vehicles along the corridor. Dr Shinde, while acknowledging the representations from Davkhare and CAN by NatConnect, assured the delegation that he would definitely explore the flyover option. NMMC is already in touch with IIT-Bombay on the Palm Beach Road traffic issue and may also seek its inputs on the proposal. Kumar and Patki had earlier met Davkhare, who represents the Konkan Graduates’ constituency spread across Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts, to discuss various environmental issues. Davkhare subsequently took up the Palm Beach Road traffic issue with the NMMC Commissioner. The road carries substantial inter-city traffic, with thousands of vehicles heading towards Pune, Alibaug and Goa using Palm Beach Road after diverting from the Sion-Panvel Highway at Vashi. Such traffic adds considerably to the pressure on the corridor, particularly because vehicles have to negotiate multiple signals along the route. The environmental groups proposed a system in which through traffic could move without stopping at major junctions while local traffic continues to use the existing road network. They said such an arrangement could reduce congestion, fuel wastage and vehicular emissions besides improving travel time and road safety. Kumar pointed to worsening congestion on Palm Beach Road and identified Moraj Junction between Vashi and Nerul as a major bottleneck. The representation also highlighted traffic problems at Nerul, T S Chanakya, Akshar and NRI Seawoods junctions. According to the representation, the Moraj Junction bottleneck results in long delays, fuel wastage and inconvenience to thousands of daily commuters. It proposed straight flyovers carrying through traffic in both northbound and southbound directions, enabling vehicles to bypass signals and junction-level congestion.

Discussions on among allies for govt formation: Ajit Pawar

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Monday said discussions were underway among the Mahayuti partners to finalise a formula for the new government formation in the state.


Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also acknowledged the contribution of the government's Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in the Mahayuti's victory in the just-concluded state assembly polls.


The NCP leader also assured that the alliance was working cohesively following its resounding victory in the state assembly elections.


Pawar paid tributes to Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan at his memorial in Karad on his death anniversary.


In the state poll results declared on Saturday, the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bagged an impressive 230 of the 288 assembly seats.


The focus has been on BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time, as his party bagged 132 of the 149 seats it contested in the state.


Notably, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has said his party legislators feel Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of the state, where the ruling Mahayuti scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.


Ajit Pawar said, "We will decide what formula to work out on the cabinet formation among the three parties."


Reflecting on the elections, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Mahayuti's win.


"We cannot ignore that Ladki Bahin helped us in this election. We are grateful to them (women voters)," he said.


Defending the scheme, Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, further said, "Had I been opposed to the Ladki Bahin scheme, I would not have presented it in the House. I discussed the scheme with several retired finance officers before finalising it."


Pawar also dismissed concerns raised by some opposition leaders over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), pointing out that polls in states like Punjab, West Bengal and Telangana, governed by their political opponents, have been conducted with the same system.


Commenting on members of same families contesting against each other during the elections, Pawar expressed annoyance over repeated questions on it.


He then asked, "Why was my close nephew fielded? Atram's own daughter was fielded against him, and even Rajendra Shingne faced a similar challenge. I don't want to comment further on this. I have got tired of apologising for fielding my wife against Supriya. Yugendra was in business, then why was he prepared to contest against me?"


In the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar was pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar.


In Aheri seat, NCP leader Dharamraobaba Atram's daughter Bhagyashree Atram contested against him on NCP (SP) ticket.

Comments

bottom of page