Mumbai: Train derailment, Ganpati preparations ensure a miserable day for commuters

Road commuters in Mumbai had a harrowing time on Tuesday, when the train derailment on the Western Railway and preparations for Ganesh Chaturti combined to throw traffic out of gear across Mumbai.

Road commuters in Mumbai had a harrowing time on Tuesday, when the train derailment on the Western Railway and preparations for Ganesh Chaturti combined to throw traffic out of gear across Mumbai. Though the train derailment undoubtedly made things worse, the police warned that heavy traffic is likely to persist through the course of the Ganesh festival.

The train derailed between Andheri and Vile Parle on Tuesday morning. (Kailash Korde/HT Photo)

Traffic snarls were reported from various parts of the city during the morning rush hours. Of the many roads that saw heavy traffic congestion, the Western Express Highway and Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road in the western suburbs were the worst-affected.

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Heavy traffic near Mahim church, Mumbai. (Satish Bate/HT photo)

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The train derailed between Andheri and Vile Parle. (Satish Bate/HT Photo)

To make matters worse, an accident occurred on the airport flyover on the WEH around 11am, causing further delays. No casualties were reported.

“We deployed about 500 traffic police personnel in the western suburbs to regulate the flow of traffic, which was affected slightly on the Western Express Highway. We are constantly regulating traffic to ensure a smooth commute,” said Namdeo Chavan, deputy commissioner of police, traffic, western suburbs, who was at the Western Express Highway with several of his colleagues from the afternoon.

Train services remained hampered well into the evening owing to work at the site of the derailment, and this affected evening traffic on the Western Express Highway, with heavy congestion reported from Andheri and Milan Subway in Santacruz (W). According to commuters, traffic started to build up on the northbound stretch of the Western Express Highway as early as 3.30 pm, well before the evening rush hours. Later in the evening, Tulsi Pipe Road and roads in Dadar were jammed. Commuters complained that several state-transport buses parked on Tulsi Pipe Road contributed to the snarls.

Major traffic congestion was also reported in Dadar, one of the worst-affected areas, where scores of people were out shopping for Ganesh idols and decorations ahead of the 10-day festival. Traffic police officials said they also received reports of jams from several junctions where Ganesh pandals were being set up. Sion also saw crippling snarls through the day.

Day of chaos

* Seven coaches of a local train detailed near Vile Parle railway station around 11am

* This, combined with Ganesh Chaturti shopping and preparations, caused huge traffic jams across the city

* To make matters worse, an accident occurred on the airport flyover on the WEH around 11am

* 500 traffic police personnel in the western suburbs to regulate the flow of traffic, according to Namdeo Chavan, deputy commissioner of police, traffic, western suburbs

* In the evening, heavy congestion was reported from Andheri and Milan Subway in Santacruz (W)

* According to commuters, traffic started to build up on the northbound stretch of the Western Express Highway as early as 3.30 pm

* Major traffic congestion was also reported in Dadar, one of the worst-affected areas, where scores of people were out shopping for Ganesh idols and decorations

* Traffic police officials said they also received reports of jams from several junctions where Ganesh pandals were being set up

(HT Photos: Satish Bate)