Traffic chaos reigns at Amar Mahal junction

The traffic from Chembur station south side area to Amar Mahal, Pestomsagar, Tilaknagar, Garodia Nagar burdens the Amar Mahal junction significantly. When the auto rickshaws went off the road for half a day recently, there was no traffic congestion, leading to the fact that if the auto rickshaw traffic is handled effectively, there would be relief.

“A similar situation exists for south bound auto traffic towards Chembur Railway station and nearby areas,” says Mohan Bagwe, a local resident. “There is a service road from Shell Colony towards Shramajeevi Nagar Nulla on the western side of the Highway.

If this service road can be linked near the BEST Postal Colony stop on the northbound traffic (western side), autos from the station area can come to Shell Colony, take the Service Road and then the Highway totally bypassing the traffic junction. A free left turn would be a good effective discharge,” informs Bagwe.

According to Bagwe, a flyover only for autos between Chembur railway station and Tilaknagar Railway Station adjacent to an unused pedestrian over bridge will be effective in the reverse direction. These above two points will together relieve the Amar Mahal junction of a substantial load.

There are few more conflicts like the traffic along the Service Road to Chhedanagar. The traffic to Chhedanagar has to cross/cut through the Sion bound traffic from Chhedanagar and this causes gridlocks everyday with the drivers feeling that the Service Road is free.

When CG Plus spoke to several auto drivers at road no 4 of Pestomsagar, they all wanted a dedicated flyover for autos and a better filling facility for gas without obstructing traffic at Amar Mahal. Auto driver Murugan says, “A flyover exclusively for autos leading to Amar Mahal junction is a very good idea, but there is hardly no space for one.”

P R Vijayaraghavan, a Tilak Nagar resident says, “Recently I drove from R K Studio via P L Lokhande Marg, Tilaknagar police station to avoid the traffic jam at the rail bridge. Besides, the usual chaos due to traffic, some lousy road repair has added to woes. Nobody seems to bother. Mere rhetoric does not solve any problem. To add to our woes there is a gridlock along the Service Road to Chhedanagar.”

“Economic considerations and several other factors pressurise state and municipal authorities to take certain decisions while improving the surface infrastructure of Mumbai. On many occasions such options are detrimental to the growth of the city,” added Vijayaraghavan.

When contacted a traffic official on condition of anonymity said, “Our department is trying its best to improve the traffic at Amar Mahal junction.”