BKC’s new bus lane has commuters confused, leads to traffic snarls

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Kapil Dev Jaiswal (58), a security guard in the locality, said that in the first week of the implementation, at least three minor accidents had occurred as people found it difficult to cross the road due to traffic congestion. A bus commuter from Bhandup said sometimes the bus halts outside the lane and sometimes inside, so it becomes difficult for passengers to board.

The bus lane pilot project is a joint initiative of the BEST and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), set to be replicated on six other roads, including the Western Express Highway between Jogeshwari and Borivli, Sion to Suman Nagar, Oshiwara-Malwani, Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, the road connecting Haji Ali and Worli and the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.

Proposals for these have already been submitted by the BEST.

With concerns varying from the length of the track and rules violated even by bus drivers, the traffic in peak hours has increased.
Israr Ali, an auto driver for 17 years, says it’s irksome that autorickshaws cannot use the bus lane and that it has adversely affected their business.

“In the traffic pike-up with some buses outside the lane and some inside, autorickshaws who try to make use of the bus lane are stopped and fined. This causes even longer traffic jams,” said one motorist.

Jagdish Patil, general manager, BEST, said buses are not even getting 50 per cent of the available road and people need to support the use of public transport.”People used to park their vehicles in the dedicated lane before, but after the project was implemented, such cases have reduced because now buses continuously travel through the lane.”