Mass Rapid Transportation System soon to be implemented by MMRDA

By Pallavii Pitale

The Express Highways in the Mumbai soon shall turn up into a core hub of Mass Rapid Transportation System by clubbing the spacious roads with future metro rail lines and special dedicated bus lanes. Various possibilities are being considered by MMRDA wherein, besides private vehicles, BRTS and Metro rail may run alongside Highways.

A special committee report on Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), under which the BEST buses shall run every thirty seconds in dedicated lanes on Western Express Highway, is expected to be submitted soon.  Future metro rail routes may also be planned alongside the Western and Eastern Express Highways. With such system coming up, the Western Express Highway from Mahim to Mira Road and Eastern Express Highway from Sion to Thane shall turn into boom,which are suffering through heavy traffic everyday.

MMRDA experts are envisioning the infrastructural needs beyond 5 years from now for these projects. Cutting complex corners of land acquisition and facilities for installing projects, these highways pose tremendous opportunities for solving the city’s commutation problems. The further details are expected soon on how these two different plans can be assimilated efficiently.

Under the proposed BRTS, a pilot project shall be initiated soon on dedicated bus lane on Western Express Way serving about 15,000 commuters every hour.