NAVI MUMBAI: The city will get its first clock tower at the Ramdas Patil chowk – a cross junction that links the wholesale APMC market with the Sion Panvel highway , Arenja circle at the Vashi end of Palm Beach road and the Turbhe bridge. The new addition to the city infra is a welcome feature as it has been appreciated from social activists to politicos cutting across party lines. Panvel civic commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh is also contemplating to build one in the newly created jurisdiction that abuts the 300-year-old township.So, why the tower? NCP Turbhe corporator, Shubhangi Patil told TOI, "Every city has a clock tower, but we did not have one. It’s an old proposal around two years ago, and now being implemented by the NMMC. The wholesale market is an area where trucks come from different parts as also mathadi workers abound. This is a unique centre in the city where citizens come from far away places also to shop."While Mumbai has the famous and iconic Rajabhai clock tower, Lucknow has the Husainabad clock tower. Shubhangi said, "The old British era public buildings and cities had the towers." Navi Mumbai is a new city and the idea, therefore, was to hold hands with the iconic tower in old cities and neighbouring Mumbai.NMMC commissioner N Ramaswamy observed, "The location may not be the central place but it is a melting pot where lakhs of people visit every day." The tower is just across the APMC traffic police chowki.The tower is under construction and will be 12 meter in height. Deputy engineer, Rajesh Pawar said, "It should be commissioned by March end. We get little time to construct the tower as it is a busy traffic junction. The work is done during night. The designing of the clock is underway."Sources said the east, west and northern end of the tower will have the clock. Decision was yet to be taken regarding southern side.

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.