Mumbai: Vikhroli’s new connector may see snarls at two junctions

The Vikhroli EastWest connector expected to open by May 2025 is set to ease connectivity but may also trigger massive traffic congestion on both sides of the bridge The bridge which links the Eastern Express Highway to LBS Road is expected to create bottlenecks at the Vikhroli station road junction and Tagore Nagar as vehicles from both directions converge leading to long queues and jamsThe bridge and its delaysFor years Vikhroli residents have struggled with poor eastwest connectivity relying on detours through Ghatkopar or Kanjurmarg The project initiated in 2018 faced significant delays due to land acquisition and rehabilitation issues Originally planned after the closure of the level crossing gate in 2011 the bridgersquos cost has now ballooned to Rs 100 crore due to design modifications recommended by IIT expertsTraffic concernsResidents worry that the new connector will worsen congestion with vehicles heading in multiple directionsmdashtowards Thane Kannamwar Nagar Ghatkopar and Tagore Nagarmdashcreating a traffic snarl at peak hoursOfficial SpeakldquoConcerns have been raised after the completion of the new Vikhroli bridge The landings on both the east and west sides of the structure are expected to be sensitive points In both instances we have written to the BMC to initiate the process of setting up a signalised junction at these locations to prevent issues We are also in consultation with the BMC to explore additional decongestion measures at the landing pointsrdquo said a traffic official from the Ghatkopar traffic branchResidents voice their concernsGanesh Mahabal Shetty Activist who first highlighted the issue in a letter to the Chief Ministerrsquos OfficeldquoThere are two issues I have taken up It is crucial to ensure that the Vikhroli East bridge allows direct access to the Eastern Express Highway Vehicles should not have to use the service roads instead they should be able to continue directly on the bridge towards their destination This design will significantly reduce congestion at the Tagore Nagar junction and resolve a major traffic bottleneck in the area These small but significant measures if not implemented in time will lead to severe traffic problems across the entire Eastern Express Highway corridor Secondly the internal roads in Tagore Nagar are very narrow causing significant traffic congestion especially with the ongoing bridge construction work in Vikhroli West The situation is expected to worsen once construction is completed as the Eastern Express Highway will likely face severe traffic jams due to the bottleneck created by the narrow roads in Tagore Nagar To mitigate this issue and ensure smooth traffic flow I request that the road widening project for Tagore Nagar and its connecting roads be expedited The widening of these roads is crucial to prevent potential traffic jams and ensure safe and efficient travel for residents and commutersrdquoJayant Dandekar Local activistldquoWersquove raised concerns with traffic authorities well in advance The issue will be severe on both sides with a skywalk and Metro alignment in the west and the Eastern Express Highway in the eastrdquoRobert DrsquoSouza Vikhroli residentldquoOnce the bridge opens the LBS junction and Tagore Nagar area will turn into a mess with vehicles crisscrossing from three directionsrdquoMario Jose Rodrigues Vikhroli resident and former chairman of the Bombay Catholic Sabharsquos Vikhroli unitldquoTraffic signals are a must on the east side due to peakhour congestion Authorities must act now to avoid lastminute chaosrdquo