State okays truck terminal for Thane city

State okays truck terminal for Thane city

The illegally-parked heavy trucks, buses and containers could soon be off the city and arterial roads as the state government has approved the proposal by the municipal corporation to develop a truck terminal to accommodate nearly 6,000 trucks outside the city limits at Balkum.

As per the plans, a massive truck parking bay is to constructed on a six-and-a-half acre plot at Balkum. Trucks and heavy freight vehicles entering the city during peak hours will be diverted to this terminal as the movement of heavy vehicles inside the city would be restricted.

Presently, most of these vehicles are diverted on the service roads or under flyovers.

The Balkumpada plot was initially reserved for a MSRTC bus workshop but its use was proposed to be modified into that of a truck terminal in 2017 after an approval from the TMC general body. The proposal was later sent to the urban development department that finally approved the plans.

Civic officials say they have been notified about the approval on Friday and said the project could go a long way in easing the snarls on certain arterial roads in the city due to parked trucks especially during peak hours.

“The trucks that are now parked on the roadsides will get a proper space for parking. The congestion on the roadsides where these trucks are parked will also ease, said Thane district guardian minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.

The plot, located nearly 50 m away from the Bhiwandi highway beyond Balkum pada, is presented occupied with several residential tenements and the same will have to be cleared off first by the administration.

The need for a truck terminal was felt since long. Nearly 600 or more trucks could be accommodated at the plot which will be acquired through offering construction transfer of development of rights to interested developer.