This is an archive article published on August 6, 2024

‘Widen BKC roads by scrapping cycle track, run special bus to Bandra station’: Lodha’s proposal to address traffic woes

During the meeting, Lodha also proposed that the MMRDA ferry special buses between the Bandra railway station and the BKC route to tackle the menace of unlawful and high charges levied by taxi and rickshaw drivers.

In 2011, the MMRDA approved the construction of a 13-km cycling track at the BKC. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

3 min readAug 6, 2024 06:50 PM IST First published on: Aug 6, 2024 at 03:29 PM IST

In an effort to ease traffic congestion in the internal areas of Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai suburban guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Monday met with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) chief Sanjay Mukherjee. The minister proposed expanding the roads by eliminating the cycle track and integrating it into the main carriageway.

During the meeting, Lodha also proposed that the MMRDA ferry special buses between the Bandra railway station and the BKC route to tackle the menace of unlawful and high charges levied by taxi and rickshaw drivers.

According to the guardian minister, BKC has been facing the brunt of unbearable traffic congestion owing to a combination of factors, including the Metro work barriers, which have reduced the width of the motorable area, and the cycling track and gardens, which he said are “barely used by cyclists”.

Flagging issues raised by commuters as well as business owners in the commercial quarters, Lodha suggested that the cycle track be added back to the road, enabling its widening and increasing space for vehicular traffic flow. He also suggested that the barriers which have been put up for Metro work should be reduced to provide more space for pedestrians and motorists.

For cyclists, meanwhile, the minister proposed the construction of a separate cycle track in any adjoining plot at the BKC wherein they can cycle safely. In 2011, the MMRDA approved the construction of a 13-km cycling track at the BKC.

In a letter to the MMRDA commissioner, Lodha also stated that the planning agency must introduce special buses to ferry people to and from Bandra station and the BKC. “There is a huge problem of traffic as well as unlawful charging by the taxi and autorickshaw owners at the Bandra station (East) to and from BKC. The MMRDA should plan special buses from the Bandra station to the BKC route,” read a section of the letter.

Emphasising the need to expedite the widening of roads at BKC, the letter said that while there is a combined space of 21 metres for footpaths and gardens at Bharat Diamond Bourse, only 15 meters for a four-lane road exacerbates the traffic problem. It added that necessary infrastructural changes should be made to resolve this issue.

However, Opposition leaders have criticised the suggestions, stating that the traffic issues in the BKC cannot be solved by simply widening the existing roads.

Taking to social media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray wrote that there is a need to study the newly emerging traffic patterns following the development of new offices. In his post, he said that part of the traffic solution lies in increasing public transport, such as frequent bus services, by erecting more bus stops and taking action against signal jumping, wrong-side driving, and illegal parking.

“Most important is the aspect of removal or better management of Metro work barricades. The random placement of barricades that aren’t needed for many work sites that have been closed and frequent route changes causes most chaos in BKC,” said Thackeray in a post on X Tuesday.