[suniladhiya]

I travel often from Pune to Andheri in Mumbai, following the traditional route of MPEW-Kalamboli-Kharghar-Vashi-Chembur-Sion-Dharavi-Bandra-Andheri or sometimes Vashi-Govandi-Sion-Dharavi-Bandra-Andheri. Of late, especially on weekdays, several holdups are faced at Kalamboli-Kharghar-Vashi (due to flyover work, concretisation etc), under Sion flyover, Dharavi, and at the BKC cross.

Some people have suggested an alternate route as - MPEW-Turbhe flyover-Airoli Bridge-left turn on EEH-Right turn under Kanjur Marg flyover- Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road-Powai-Jogeshwari-Left Turn for Andheri. Google map shows the distance via this route to be the same as the traditional routes.

I want to know from fellow members, if its worthwhile taking the alternate route in terms of traffic density, road surface quality and complete stage of JVLR flyovers, Railway overbridge etc.

Dr.HVK Sir, your inputs welcome and awaited.

Thanks in advance.

[arup.misra]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

I want to know from fellow members, if its worthwhile taking the alternate route in terms of traffic density, road surface quality and complete stage of JVLR flyovers, Railway overbridge etc.

I have always been using MPEW - Turbhe - Airoli - EEH - JVLR route. Haven't faced any major traffic congestion upto now. On the contrary I find this route to be time saving rather going through the Sion route. Roads are good with few undulations here and there but perfectly good to be able to maintain good average speeds. Some time back there was road construction going on in Airoli which caused a bit of pain, but IIRC its now done.

[Mr.Beat]

The policemen have got smart to curb incidents of rash and fast driving. The trick which they are using now is quite simple. When you pay the toll at toll no 1/khalapur, you have the time printed on it and when you reach toll no 2 / chakan , the time is seen again. If you cover this distance in very short time, it means that you have been fast and will be escorted by a traffic cop. Neat!

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by Mr.Beat

The policemen have got smart to curb incidents of rash and fast driving. The trick which they are using now is quite simple. When you pay the toll at toll no 1/khalapur, you have the time printed on it and when you reach toll no 2 / chakan , the time is seen again. If you cover this distance in very short time, it means that you have been fast and will be escorted by a traffic cop. Neat!

I agree it is a smart move but not something that would curb speeding.

7th Feb:

Stuck to speed limits to see how much time it takes from Pune to Bombay. Didn't take more than 3 hours from Pune to Mantralaya. Returned and the timing was just the same. Without going over speed limit. Got to agree that there was almost zero traffic in Bombay both to and fro.

If you've been a regular expressway user, you'll realize that most of the traffic gets off at Lonavala. These users do not come under the purview of this so called speed check drive.

Secondly, majority of the users drive into the food mall for a quick bite or a refuel. Even if you hurry up, a 15 minute break is what you'll end up taking. Net result, at toll # 2 these cars are not caught. I personally didn't stop at the food mall but a BMW guy did and he whizzed past me just before the toll and still went free.

[coriollis]

I came back from Mumbai yesterday. Decided on using this road and use it by not breaking a single rule. Wanted to see if this is possible or not.

Here are the observations:

1. It took me 2 hours from Kalamboli expressway start to expressway end at Ravet.

2. 50 minutes needed to do the Ghat section.

3. Was left frustrated at the end.

4. Maybe everybody else was frustrated due to me as well.

But most important:

You can perfectly follow rules if you are determined.

Cheers,
Abhijeet.

[Palio_2005]

I do this every weekend as I stay in Pune and work in Mumbai. The Airoli route is much better if you want to get to Andheri. Sticking to speed limits (80-90 kmph) I do door to door from SEEPZ to Baner in about 3 hours with a stop to fuel up at the BP fuel station en route Pune. I don't think one needs to speed up to say 20 min.

[Mr.Beat]

Originally Posted by moralfibre

I agree it is a smart move but not something that would curb speeding.


If you've been a regular expressway user, you'll realize that most of the traffic gets off at Lonavala. These users do not come under the purview of this so called speed check drive.

Secondly, majority of the users drive into the food mall for a quick bite or a refuel. Even if you hurry up, a 15 minute break is what you'll end up taking. Net result, at toll # 2 these cars are not caught. I personally didn't stop at the food mall but a BMW guy did and he whizzed past me just before the toll and still went free.

It may not curb 100%, but there will be some who will be caught. Increase in speed from the suggested 80 to about 120, will reduce the travel time of the entire expressway ( excluding city) of 100 kms by about 10-15 minutes at max. It makes sense to stick to 80 and take about 5-10 minutes more.

Sometimes you feel that cars such a the Fortuner, Innova. XUV 500 and 15+ lakh category are overpowered and driven by rash drivers and thus causing a major risk to others.

Another point is the construction of e-way, there are so many points where instead of Ghat/curves/slope the planning agency could have made a straight road and hence reducing the danger.

[Dodge_Viper]

I also travel every weekend to and fro on expressway. Though the new trick by traffic police can curb over speeding, many a times I see policemen missing (almost no one after 6-7 PM). Rightly said by moralfibre, a quick stop at the food mall can easily add few minutes to fool the trick .

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by coriollis

2. 50 minutes needed to do the Ghat section.

What speed did you do on the ghaats? I remember in some places the speed signs say 30kmph If I'm not mistaken. That would be frustrating.

Originally Posted by Palio_2005

I do this every weekend as I stay in Pune and work in Mumbai. The Airoli route is much better if you want to get to Andheri. Sticking to speed limits (80-90 kmph) I do door to door from SEEPZ to Baner in about 3 hours with a stop to fuel up at the BP fuel station en route Pune. I don't think one needs to speed up to say 20 min.

Does it take you 3 hours in the day? I remember once driving at night at a relatively moderate pace, not above 120kmph I made it from Baner to my house in Parel in 2 hours flat. Of course in the day this becomes 2.5 hours.

[coriollis]

Originally Posted by akshay1234

What speed did you do on the ghaats? I remember in some places the speed signs say 30kmph If I'm not mistaken. That would be frustrating.

The speed limit of 30 kmph didn't matter actually. I was in middle or the overtaking lane, right behind a very heavily overloaded truck also trying to overtake a similarly paced truck.
My speeds were in range of 5 to 25 kmph all the time. Maximum I achieved was 35 kmph in 3rd gear, and that too for fifty meters or so.

And yes it was frustrating... More so for my mother..
In our country sadly we have to pay dearly to follow the rules it seems. We can only hope that this scenario changes into something good and positive.

Cheers,
Abhijeet.

[sa_kiran]

I do not want to start a new thread for this news item, so posting here. Central Railway to start Mumbai-Pune local service soon - http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ce...-soon/1078029/

Mumbai-Pune train journey is set to become local. Central Railway (CR) has sought railway board permission to run EMUs on the harbour line between Kurla and Shivaji Nagar in Pune.

The main hurdle in the plan is a railway rule that trains going beyond 160 km should have toilets. The distance between Kurla and Shivaji Nagar is 180 km.

[Palio_2005]

Originally Posted by akshay1234

What speed did you do on the ghaats? I remember in some places the speed signs say 30kmph If I'm not mistaken. That would be frustrating.



Does it take you 3 hours in the day? I remember once driving at night at a relatively moderate pace, not above 120kmph I made it from Baner to my house in Parel in 2 hours flat. Of course in the day this becomes 2.5 hours.

Yes i leave office around 5 pm and am at home in Baner around 8 if I am lucky with the Hinjewadi mess. Else add another 30 minutes to it.

[Jignesh]

Hello All,

Found the statistics on accidents on Mumbai Pune Expressway as mentioned below:

Period: June 2009 to November 2012, approx 3.5 years.

Total Accidents: 3464
Fatal Accident: 612
Number if people dead: 841
Seriously injured: 1523
Reported cases of over speeding & lane cutting: 2.1 lacs
Fine collected: Rs. 2.2 crore
Accident prone spots: 12

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/18801253.cms

Friends,

3.5 years - 840 dead & 1500 seriously injured on a 100 KM Expressway is very alarming figure. It seems our Expressways are becoming highways to death?

Thanks,

[torquecurve]

Accident near amrutanjan bridge on mumbai pune section. Traffic backed up for 3-4 kms. Traffic At standstill on khalapur toll as well.

[apachelongbow]

Originally Posted by Jignesh

Hello All,

Found the statistics on accidents on Mumbai Pune Expressway as mentioned below:

Period: June 2009 to November 2012, approx 3.5 years.

Total Accidents: 3464
Fatal Accident: 612
Number if people dead: 841
Seriously injured: 1523
Reported cases of over speeding & lane cutting: 2.1 lacs
Fine collected: Rs. 2.2 crore
Accident prone spots: 12

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/18801253.cms

Friends,

3.5 years - 840 dead & 1500 seriously injured on a 100 KM Expressway is very alarming figure. It seems our Expressways are becoming highways to death?

Thanks,

This figure is not alarming when compared to the below statistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ted_death_rate
India's death rate at 315/100,000 vehicles is nothing when compared to 6000 in Bangladesh or 11000 in some African country. Even our closest competitor in terms of mannerisms and culture, our 'friendly' neighbour Pakistan is way ahead with 2300 deaths per 1 lac vehicles.

I am not saying we should be proud of our statistics, but with improving roads and better vehicles our death rate has fallen by a large extent. Yes it will take some more time and disipline in reaching to developed country like rates, but we are on the right path to reducing fatalities.

Please dont fall to media derived sensationalism with quotes like are our highways roads to death etc, these quotes are good for thrashy papers like the TOI.

Our country might not be the best in terms of road manners or safety, but trust me the govt and we ourselves have been improving over time, and we should see less deaths or accidents over the coming years. Lot of our drivers are first time car/bike owners and as they settle down into vehicle ownership , the will mature to be better drivers.