Mumbai: Joggers, cyclists can use service road on EEH early mornings to keep safe

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MUMBAI: The service road along Eastern Express Highway, from Airoli junction to Ghatkopar, will be barricaded for the use of walkers, runners and cyclists for over a couple of hours in the mornings, beginning Tuesday.

It will be set aside from 5am up to 7.30am through the week to mitigate the risk of vehicular mishaps for fitness enthusiasts on this stretch. Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Pravin Padwal confirmed this to TOI on Saturday.

"The service road from Airoli junction up to Ghatkopar will be barricaded from 5am till 7.30am for the use of walkers, runners and cyclists," Padwal said.

He added that a "temporary" notification to this effect would be issued on Monday, for two weeks initially. "We will observe and examine issues related to it and make necessary changes, if required," he said.

Last week, a group of runners, under the banner 'EEH Runners' - or, Eastern Express Highway Runners - had met the city's traffic police chief to request for some security measures for those who venture out for exercise early mornings. The meeting was spurred by the death of a runner who was knocked down allegedly by a drunk motorist who was speeding.

Kanjurmarg resident Dr Aparna Govind, a regular runner on the eastern suburban stretch, who met the traffic police chief said the route from Airoli junction to Ghatkopar is dotted with several fitness freaks in the mornings. "In the past, we have seen accident cases where people have been injured," Dr Govind said, adding that the regular runners on this stretch had come together and cobbled up a WhatsApp group to alert one another and reach out in case of any eventuality.

The Worli runner's fatal accident spurred them into action. "I could imagine myself or any of us from here in her place," Dr Govind said, explaining why they met municipal and police officials. "We also met and requested the local municipal official to get the dimly lit streets better illuminated," she said.

Ghatkopar resident Captain Swaminathan Iyer (60), also a regular runner on the eastern express highway stretch, said many motorists often swerve off the highway and get onto the service road, driving at "breakneck" speed, putting morning joggers, walkers and cyclists at risk. He said they had requested the top top traffic police officer to barricade the service road till 8.30am. "That's because many do long-distance runs, especially on Sundays. Most runners typically start before sunrise and wrap up around 9am," said Iyer, an ex-army officer who has participated in ultramarathons.

Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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