Traffic Congestion Issues in Mumbai

Mumbai is one of the largest megalopolises in the world. Though smaller than Delhi, it is
yet extremely huge. The shape of Mumbai is very diverse and weird. Most cities are semi-
circle. This gives more inside space in the city to develop roads and connect all the roads.
On the other hand, Mumbai is straight. If you see it is narrow in the South and extensive
on the North. This leaves a slight space for expansion and roads cannot be made. The
road traffic in Mumbai has a specific direction. It majorly flows from the western suburbs
to the town side during peak hours in the morning. This comprises of the working
population and the youth heading to colleges in South Mumbai. While in the evening,
this same flow of vehicular traffic moves back to the suburbs. Therefore, as the
barricades are on this main stretch the flow of vehicles is slowed down due to lack of
space. Due to the metro line construction, vehicular traffic has been affected. Due to
this, 30-40 minutes of the journey is taking two hours. With most roads dug up for metro
construction or sewage work in Mumbai and drivers furious over regular traffic jams,
even the number of vehicles getting registered nowadays on a daily basis has evolved
significantly. Also, the roads of the city have been reduced as barricades are placed due
to the ongoing construction work of the Metro line. The construction sites of this 33.5-
kilometer metro line are barricaded which has led to increasing traffic congestion
causing inconvenience to daily commuters. Illegal street parking is one of the primary
reasons why Mumbai faces progressively worsening traffic conditions. Insufficient and
poorly managed parking facilities often force vehicle owners to illegally park on the
streets. When such parking violations spill over to sidewalks, they cause chaos in
pedestrian’s lives too. Even the widest of roads experience blockages due to illegal
parking. Few roads experience heavier traffic than the road’s capacity. Urban roads are
extremely choked due to heavy traffic caused by private vehicles. This over-usage quickly
reduces the quality of roads, and most of the expenditure meant for expansion of roads
is spent on maintenance. It’s an unpleasant circle where bad roads cause traffic
problems, and the traffic does not allow scope for the development of new roads.
Currently, due to heavy monsoon rains which lashed on Mumbai, caused waterlogging
and unsettling traffic jams as well as suspended the train services. Due to the potholes
which are created due to poor construction techniques of the road causing traffic jams
are not treated as per the commuter’s convenience.
So, to control the traffic issues of Mumbai city some measures can be such as heavy
illegal parking charges, dedicated bus lanes, strict policing, fines for breaching the traffic
laws, more use of affordable public mode of transport.

References: -
https://www.quora.com
http://blog.getmyparking.com
www.hindustantimes.com
www.indiatoday.in Jay Doshi
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