Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Motorists bound for Navi Mumbai were at the mercy of Rain God' that was published in Newsband

Motorists bound for Navi Mumbai were at the mercy of Rain God

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Hundreds of motorists bound for Navi Mumbai had to fight their way through waterlogged stretches of Dr Ambedkar Road, P D'Mello Road, Eastern Express Highway and the Sion-Panvel road since heavy showers on Friday evening, but the state administration did not care to come to their rescue. The authorities could have opened the Eastern Freeway and given relief to the vehicle drivers.

The opening of the freeway under such a circumstance could have helped the motorists avoid the water-logged stretches in the rains. After spending taxpayer money on the project, the government has no right to make the Eastern Freeway a party issue and hold up the inauguration.

One of the Navi Mumbai residents said. "I drive to Vashi in 45 to 50 minutes, but on Friday night it took me more than 90 minutes. My Thane counterpart faced the same thing."

To inaugurate the signal-free Eastern Freeway, the government wants to invite senior Congress leaders such as Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had promised Mumbaikars that the freeway would be opened by June 7. But he has not been able to keep his promise.

The government came under severe criticism from social activists. Even Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), came under fire. One of the social activists said that the government was holding people to ransom for political shows.