Mumbai: Newly installed speed breakers on JJ flyover removed

HT had reported on Friday that authorities installed two speed breakers on both the north and southbound stretch near the curved edges of the flyover.

Less than a week after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) installed speed breakers on the JJ flyover to deter bikers from using the flyover, the traffic police were forced to remove them because they were causing major traffic snarls.

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“We installed the speed breakers on an experimental basis. We are replacing them with rumblers to avoid unwanted congestion. We will also increase police presence on the flyover to prevent bikers from using the flyover,” said Dr BK Upadhyay, joint commissioner of police, traffic.

HT had reported on Friday that authorities installed two speed breakers on both the north and southbound stretch near the curved edges of the flyover. Traffic officials noted the bikers were speeding while taking a turn and were getting into accidents near the curve. The police said in the past 15 days, four fatalities were reported on the flyover, forcing officials to take action.

Although motorists are banned on the flyover, the traffic police have been struggling to keep the bikers off the flyover. Senior officials said they deploy policemen on the flyover from 8am till 9pm to act as a deterrent. The move, however, failed to have a positive effect.

“This year, we have taken action against over 5,800 bikers on the JJ Flyover. For now, we are deploying additional personnel on the flyover and are working on alternatives. We are again requesting bikers not to use the flyovers,” said Upadhyay.

Motorists took to social networking to complain about the impending traffic snarls on the 2.4-km flyover stretching from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Byculla. Motorists complained of unnecessary backlog during the day because of the speed breakers, which prompted officials to remove them.