National Disaster Management Committee's Vice-Chairman Sharad Pawar today inaugurated the nearly Rs 100- crore 2.4-km-long Mumbai Urban Viaduct from J J Hospital to Palton Road in the metropolis which is aimed at ensuring smooth and fast travel to downtown Mumbai. The Nationalist Congress Party chief and former Defence Minister inaugurated the road-over-road in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his Deputy, Chhagan Bhujbal, besides their Cabinet colleagues.
Work on the four-lane viaduct commenced on January 1, 2000 and was completed within a record time. It crosses over 17 junctions. On this road-over-road motorists can attain a speed of over 60 kmph from the J J Hospital to reach Crawford Market in four minutes which otherwise because of the traffic jam took 20 to 30 minutes. Bureau Report