Mumbai: Mid-Day report helps tackle traffic congestion in Dadar

To reduce traffic congestion on Senapati Bapat Marg the Mumbai Traffic Policersquos Dadar division and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC have blocked 14 out of 18 gaps used by motorists and twowheeler riders to make Uturns on the 32km stretch between Matunga and PrabhadeviLarge cement dividers now fill the 14 spaces and police officers claim the move will help reduce congestion by 90 per cent The initiative to block these gaps was led by Senior Inspector Kanhaiyalal Shinde of the Dadar Traffic Division The traffic police also eliminated several gaps in front of the BMCrsquos sewerage operations administrative office located along this route at DadarSenior Inspector Kanhaiyalal Shinde who took the initiative to block the gapsOn Sunday midday observed that commuters are now making Uturns at the Kavi Keshavsut Flyover located just outside Dadar railway station leading to increased congestion at that spot In November this newspaper reported on how people were taking Uturns outside the Dadar railway station causing many accidents and leading to heavy traffic between Matunga and Prabhadevi on Senapati Bapat Marg during peak hoursSenior Inspector Shinde said ldquoEarlier there were 18 gaps leading to traffic congestion on this stretch Under the guidance of Joint CP Anil Kumbhare Additional CP Priyanka Narnavare and DCP Samadhan Pawar we decided to close most of the spots where people were making Uturns We blocked off all the gaps leaving only four crossings which are essential for vehicles entering vegetable markets heading towards Siddhivinayak Temple Ruparel College and Gokhale ChowkrdquoHe added ldquoDadar railway station is a major junction connecting the central and harbour lines Much of the traffic congestion occurs around Dadar railway station There were gaps along this stretch that were unnecessary and vehicles were making Uturns at these points Now Senapati Bapat Marg is trafficfree saving fuel and time for commuters Earlier people would be stuck in traffic for 2025 minutes But now they can cross the stretch in just five to seven minutes The BMC has helped us by providing the large cement dividers which we installedrdquoSpots where gaps are goneBMCrsquos Dadar Flower Market Meenatai Thackeray Flower MarketThe Meenatai Thackeray Flower Market in Dadar where flowerbearing trucks would frequently make UturnsThe traffic police closed this gap after finding that most trucks supplying flowers were taking Uturns after the Prabhadevi bridge exacerbating traffic congestion However after closing this gap trucks are now making Uturns far beyond this pointMadhani Industrial EstateA pluggedup spot on outside Madhani Industrial Estate in DadarThis location used to witness many goodscarrying vehicles making Uturns leading to significant congestionBMCrsquos sewerage operations administrative officeNew cement dividers plug gaps outside the BMCrsquos sewerage operations administrative office on Senapati Bapat Marg in Dadar PicsAshish RajeThere were four gaps within a 20metre stretch near this landmark and civic body vehicles would use them to execute Uturns After holding discussions with the BMC the traffic cops decided to close these gaps as they were deemed unnecessary to ease traffic flowKohinoor Technical Institute main gateThe divider opposite the main gate of Dadarrsquos Kohinoor Technical Institute where multiple gaps have been filled PicsAshish RajeThe traffic police with the help of the BMC also closed multiple gaps near this locationManish MarketVehicles make Uturns on the flyover as they couldnrsquot do so at Manish MarketThere were multiple gaps here at the starting point of the Kavi Keshavsut flyover outside Dadar railway station and this spot would see the highest number of private cars taxis and trucks making Uturns With large cement dividers now filling these gaps pedestrians are also avoiding crossing the road and are using the underpass to reach the stationDadar Platform No 1The busy area outside platform 1 of Dadar railway stationMany cabs taxis and private vehicles would make Uturns after dropping passengers at this point near the Kavi Keshavsut Flyover and platform number 1 of Dadar railway station However even with dividers in place on Sunday vehicles could still be seen making Uturns on the bridge creating congestion and potentially endangering lives One divider has been left open at the spot for pedestrians to cross the roadSpots where one can still make Uturnsgtgt Baburao Parulekar Marg Junction Crossinggtgt Kohinoor Technical Institutegtgt Dadar vegetable marketgtgt Janta MarketExisting signalsVidhyadhar Gokhale ChowkThis is a main junction connecting Bal Govindas Road to Shiv Sena Bhavan Shivaji Park and other routes The Uturn here remains open The traffic police however have filled three gaps after this signalDG Ruparel College of Arts Science and CommerceThis junction has a signal and a gap for vehicles to make Uturns Although the BMC had proposed to construct a foot overbridge connecting the spot to Dadar railway station for the benefit of students it has not been built