Mumbai: Peak hours ban for heavy vehicles on 17 WEH flyovers

The traffic police issued an order in this regard on Saturday. The move was prompted by the rising number of accidents caused by heavy vehicles on the flyovers.

You can expect a smoother ride on the Western Express Highway (WEH) after the Mumbai traffic police decided to ban heavy vehicles on 17 flyovers along the stretch during peak hours.

The traffic police issued an order in this regard on Saturday. The move was prompted by the rising number of accidents caused by heavy vehicles on the flyovers.

As per the new rules, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply on the southbound stretch of WEH between 8am and 11.30am. On the northbound stretch, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

Officials said the timings were decided based on the fact south-bound traffic is heavy in the morning while northbound traffic tends to be heavy in the evening.

“A large number of heavy vehicles ply on the WEH, affecting routine traffic movement. These vehicles also cause several accidents. Sometimes, due to sudden breakdowns, the smooth flow of traffic is affected,” said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic). “Hence, to avoid causing danger and inconvenience to the public, heavy vehicles will not be allowed on WEH during fixed hours.”

The traffic police have said that heavy vehicles include motor trailers, trucks, tempos, water tankers, oil tankers, generator vans, cement mixers, buses, and container vehicles.

There have been growing concerns over the involvement of heavy vehicles in recent accidents on WEH.

On October 20, two towing workers were killed while two others were injured after a speeding truck crashed into them in Borivali (East).

In another accident, on October 11, a woman constable riding a two-wheeler sustained multiple injuries after a speeding tempo hit her motorcycle from the rear on a flyover on the Western Express highway in Kandivali (East).

Time restrictions for heavy vehicles:
Northbound traffic - 4.30pm and 7.30pm
Southbound traffic - 8am and 11.30am

Off limits for heavy vehicles:
* Prabhodhankar Thakare flyover
* Kherwadi flyover
* Vakola flyover
* Centaur
* Andheri
* JVLR
* Aarey
* Dindoshi
* Ranisati
* Times of India
* Thakur Complex
* Bhor junction
* Magathane
* National Park
* Ashokvan
* Ravalpada
* Payal junction