State plans to rebuild Western Express Highway

After drawing flak for the deplorable state of the Western Express Highway (WEH), the public works department (PWD) has decided to rebuild the entire road anew before the next monsoon season.

The department is working on the huge cost involved in making the 25-km-long WEH anew that starts from the Mahim creek and goes up to Mira Road in the western suburbs.

This monsoon the WEH developed 120 potholes triggering heavy traffic jams. Also, on the stretch between Andheri and Dahisar, the work on the metro rail has started, adding to commuters’ woes. The potholes were temporarily filled with mixtures but were of little help. “There is no other solution but to reconstruct the entire 25-km stretch. The filling of potholes will not help. We have proposed to the government that the WEH should be reconstructed,” an official from the PWD department said, on the condition of anonymity.

Conceding the fact that the foundation of the road had weakened, he said, “We are working on various aspects of the road and its reconstruction. However, we have to be wary of increasing the traffic woes as work on the metro rail has started between Andheri and Dahisar. We want to invite tenders in the coming six months so that there is sufficient time for reconstruction.”

The WEH connects the international as well as domestic airport and sees more traffic compared to the Eastern Express Highway.

Transport experts and activists, though welcoming the move, also cautioned the government on the quality of work. Experts also expressed fear that the huge expenditure might invite corruption. “The road needs reconstruction. However, there has to be a mechanism to ensure construction is mostly done during night or else, commuters will have a nightmarish experience, considering the metro rail work is also ongoing,” said Jitendra Gupta.

Transport expert A.V. Shenoy pointed out that the technology used by the government to construct the road would be significant. “If the PWD uses the same old technology, potholes will appear again,” he said.

Mr Shenoy also demanded concretisation of the WEH to curb potholes. “Concretised roads are not as susceptible to potholes as asphalt roads. Friction between tyres of the heavy vehicles and asphalt road causes potholes,” Mr Shenoy said.

Another expert Sudhir Badami cautioned the government over misuse of public funds. “Only a few stretches have potholes. The government should think before spending huge amounts on reconstruction,” Mr Badami said.