Mumbai:
The second carriageway on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is now set to be thrown open to vehicular traffic on March 24.
This means that traffic in each direction will have four lanes. Presently, only four lanes of the sea link are used by vehicles -- two for north-bound traffic and the other two for vehicles headed in the opposite direction.
While toll collectors presently incurring revenue loss expect an increase in traffic by five to 10 per cent, experts feel this could help cut down the number of head-on collisions on the sea link.
"We expect a rise of five to 10 per cent in traffic once the carriageway for north-bound traffic is thrown open," said Jayant Mhaiskar, managing director of Mumbai Entry Point Ltd.
Jitendra Gupta, member of Citizen Transport Committee, said, "People who were avoiding the sea link due to the accidents will now start using it."
Transport expert Sudhir Badami echoed the view. "Vehicles using BWSL will remain more or less the same, but the possibility of head-on collisions will reduce," he said.
Badami, however, clarified that a new carriageway would not be a licence for drivers to drive at breakneck speed.
The traffic police have decided to limit the speed to 50 km per hour. "The speed limit of 50 will ensure that motorists maintain discipline while driving on the sea link," said a traffic official.
Badami said the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the body in charge of the bridge, should allow people to stroll along the sea link for a day.
"Given that Mumbai hardly has open spaces, it might be a fine idea if MSRDC decides to keep a carriageway closed for half a day for vehicles and allows people to take a walk," suggested Badami.
"A minimum charge of Rs 10 could be levied. People will be able to breathe fresh air. Also, the MSRDC will earn more revenue on that particular day," he added.