Mumbai: Ex-chief takes dig at MMRDA over traffic at DN Nagar junction

Motorists say it’s a nightmare to cross the DN Nagar junction during morning and evening peak hours. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Calling himself a common man, former MMRDA chief R A Rajeev has slammed the traffic mess between the proposed DN Nagar Metro station and Link Road in Andheri West. The ex-bureaucrat cited the need for coordination to lessen the inconvenience caused to the public in an apparent dig at
the infrastructure body.

With the Metro 2A - Dahisar to DN Nagar - coming up, civil work is in progress at many locations. As a result, vehicular movement gets hampered, triggering huge congestion, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.

R A Rajeev, former MMRDA chief

"The traffic management at DN Nagar proposed metro station to Link Road is too bad! It could be better with better micro level management and proper coordination. Inconvenience to common citizens can be easily avoided during construction of Metro," tweeted Rajeev, who once headed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

To complete the work at the Metro station, MMRDA has blocked about 300 metres on the north-bound stretch of the New Link road near D N Nagar junction. This leads to traffic jams.

Rajeev's post prompted other citizens to highlight similar problems at other spots due to work on Metro 2A. "Even on S V road Malad West from Nagindas College to till chicholi hanuman mandir traffic is really horrible. With little more effort it can be better at least," wrote C A Hemant Goyal on Twitter.

The Metro 2A line is an 18.5-km elevated corridor with 17 stations. Once completed, it will provide interconnectivity between the Western Express Highway, Western Railway, Ghatkopar-Versova Metro route. The line is expected to cut the current travel time between Dahisar and DN Nagar by anything between 50 per cent and 75 per cent.

MMRDA's response

An MMRDA official said, "The top priority is to build the station with speed and safety. Traffic diversion has been done at DN Nagar station for erection of all 284 precast elements to avoid inconvenience to commuters and considering the safety of road users. The same has also been achieved by completing the entire erection work within 3.5 months. For traffic management, assistance as requested by the Traffic department has also been provided by MMRDA/DMRC. Major works have been completed with cooperation by all departments. The road will be opened by mid of November. MMRDA is taking all efforts for fast and safe work."