Mumbai: Citizens’ group stages Satyagraha protest for missing city roads

Members of Mumbai March during their satyagraha protest on Tuesday

In search of missing roads in Mumbai, citizens have taken to the streets under the campaign, ‘Laapata Sadak' (Missing Roads). The citizens' group, Mumbai March, conducted a Satyagraha protest on Tuesday, which was the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The campaign's aim was to draw attention to the persistent issue of missing roads that, according to the group, have been absent for five decades despite being included in the Development Plans of 1967, 1991, and 2014.

The group contends that addressing the missing roads issue through the clearing of encroachment and construction could effectively alleviate traffic and congestion in Mumbai. Over 100 people from Mumbai March gathered at six locations in the western suburbs - near Gopalji Hemraj High School, Borivli East, at Kulupwadi junction near Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in Siddharth Nagar, in Thakur Village, in Lokhand-wala, Kandivli East and in Adarsh Nagar, Oshiwara.

"We dispersed and positioned ourselves at these six locations. The Satyagraha protest was peaceful, devoid of slogans or shouting. We silently sat with the posters. Meanwhile, some volunteers were raising awareness by engaging in conversations with pedestrians. The objective was to raise awareness about the genuine factors contributing to Mumbai's traffic problems and engage in discussions regarding potential solutions, including the completion of all missing links in the Development Plan," said Pankaj Trivedi from Mumbai March.

‘Govt agencies lack synergy'

With regard to roads in the city, the Mumbai March raises the lack of coordination and consensus among various government agencies, including the Forest Department, Food Corporation of India, defence forces, airport authorities, private landowners, ongoing court cases, and the presence of slums and encroachments. Activist Gopal Jhaveri, founder of Mumbai March, emphasised, "Despite DP 1967/1991 and DP 2014, over 85 per cent of the city's roads are blocked due to a lack of coordination and consensus between different government agencies, court cases, and private parties who own lands."

Jhaveri added, "For five decades, authorities have discussed many issues, but seldom has anyone addressed the opening up of blocked roads. We have thoroughly studied this and realised that opening these blocked/underdeveloped roads will alleviate the traffic congestion we grapple with every single day."

Group builds 3D model

The Mumbai March team has constructed a 3D model illustrating road connectivity between Bandra and Dahisar, based on the city's actual Development Plan, to better understand the blockages. The 3D model highlights different vital roads which, when linked, may resolve traffic congestion. The study was done with the assistance of transport consultants and DP drafts, which too, highlight two vital links between Dahisar and Andheri.

The arterial roads within the western suburbs, including the Western Express Highway, the New Link Road, and SV Road, face severe traffic snarls during peak hours and are heavily utilised by thousands of vehicles each day, Jhaveri said.

City's traffic report card

According to the traffic index published by Dutch location technology specialist TomTom, in 2020, Mumbai ranked second on the list of most congested cities in the world. As per the TomTom Traffic Index 2023 report, on average, it took 22 minutes and five seconds for Mumbaikars to cover a distance of 10 km. Mumbai has recorded a congestion level of 45 per cent. Mumbai March attributes this traffic congestion to the poor road network and infrastructure planning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.