Mulund beats Dadar and Andheri as Mumbai's worst traffic hotspot

A traffic jam at Mulund East. File pic/Sameer Markande

The number of motorists breaking traffic rules in Mumbai and its suburbs has been increasing lately, and so have the total penalty amounts. This, amid the Mumbai Traffic Police department's drive to collect the pending e-challans running into crores of rupees. Mulund ranks first among the areas reporting maximum violations, followed by Dadar, and D N Nagar in Andheri. All three areas are prone to traffic jams, which has partly been attributed to illegal parking. According to police, illegal parking is one of the top violations, especially in Mulund.

Traffic moves along a road at D N Nagar Circle in Andheri West

Though violations are reported across the city and its suburbs, the traffic police department has identified 10 areas where rules have been violated the most. Mulund, followed by Dadar, D N Nagar, Malad, Mankhurd, Colaba, Sahar, Chembur, Vakola and Kandivli, are the 10 areas, according to the data of the traffic police.

Motorists on the road at Juhu Circle, Sainath Nagar, Vile Parle West, on Thursday. Pics/Shadab Khan

According to police, illegal parking is one of the top violations, especially in Mulund, where 1,79,763 e-challans have been issued since 2016, with a penalty amount of Rs 5,43,94,450.

Even though there are signs of no-parking installed in the area, people blatantly violate the rule and park their vehicles, said officers. If this continues, traffic police have decided to start clamping the vehicles found in violation of the rule and for that more personnel will be deployed in such areas.

No-parking issue at Dadar

In Dadar, which connects the central Mumbai to and the west, ranks second, with a total of 1,74,812 e-challans issued so far and a fine of R5,19,07,100. Dadar is a hub of vegetables, fruits and clothes market, and has many small roads. Shoppers in Dadar often park their cars near the shops, causing a traffic jam. A police team has been deployed here to ensure there are no vehicles in no-parking zones, said an officer.

Traffic department has issued 1,59,509 e-challans worth R4,73,13,850 in D N Nagar area, Andheri, which is on the third place for violations of traffic rules. No parking, riding without helmet and breaking signals are among the most common violations in D N Nagar. The traffic police department is increasing the force here as well. There would be more personnel at junctions to ensure drivers/riders don't jump the signal.

Talking while driving

At number four is Malad, one of the most busy areas in the western suburbs. In Malad, a total of 1,59,150 e-challans has been issued so far, with a penalty of R5,77,03,500. No parking, riding without helmet and driving without seatbelt are among the common violations in Malad, but most e-challans here have been issued for talking while driving.

Mankhurd ranks fifth and has seen 1,53,525 e-challans being issued since 2016, with a penalty of Rs 5,19,64,400. Colaba, which has several luxury hotels and government offices, is at the sixth position. The traffic police said they have issued 1,51,492 e-challans worth Rs 3,97,98,200 in the area so far.

Sahar, which ranks seventh, also faces traffic jams, owing to the incoming and outgoing traffic from the airport. A total of 1,51,269 e-challans have been issued in Sahar, with the amount totalling to Rs 4,45,95,200.

Chembur is at the eighth position and a total of 1,46,249 e-challans have been issued here, with a total fine of Rs 4,77,15,950. On the ninth number is Vakola, where police have issued 1,34,710 e-challans worth Rs 4,05,15,550.

A total of 1,34,491 e-challans have been issued in Kandivli, which ranks the last among 10 areas reporting the most traffic rule violations. The total penalty of the e-challans amounts to Rs 4,50,03,900.

Will send more force

A traffic police officer told mid-day, "Those who violate traffic rules in the city are fined via e-challan. Most violators park their vehicles in the no-parking zones."

Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police Yashasvi Yadav told mid-day, "The number of traffic police personnel will be increased in areas where traffic rules are violated the most. Towing and clamping of vehicles parked in no-parking zones will be done."

"Areas with most traffic rules violations, will also be monitored using drones," he added. The Mumbai Traffic Police Department has to recover about Rs 317 crore from the 29 lakh e-challans.

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No. of e-challans issued in Mulund since 2016