Peak-hour traffic jam on WE highway to continue for 20 days

If you were stuck for hours in traffic on the Western Express Highway on Thursday, there is more bad news in store. The traffic jam, especially between Andheri and Kherwadi junction during the morning peak hours, is likely to continue for 15 or 20 days.

If you were stuck for hours in traffic on the Western Express Highway on Thursday, there is more bad news in store. The traffic jam, especially between Andheri and Kherwadi junction during the morning peak hours, is likely to continue for 15 or 20 days.

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Traffic officials have said that the civic body had started work on a water pipeline at the Hans Bhugra junction under the Vakola bridge in Santacruz (East) from Wednesday, because of which all traffic is diverted to the Western Express Highway.

"The service roads have been closed, so the highway traffic multiplies, especially during peak hours. Besides, because of the innumerable cars on the south-bound stretch of the highway during morning peak hours, the traffic backlog extends to Andheri and goes up to Kherwadi junction," said PP Temkar, senior inspector of police for the Vakola traffic police.

The police said the pipeline work was to facilitate water supply to the entire metropolis and the work would take at least 15 to 20 days to be completed.

"The BMC has dug up at least 40 to 50 deep pits in the Hans Bhugra junction area for the purpose. As the work is essential, we had to give them permission," Temkar said.

Abha Gupta, a 24-year-old MBA student, complained about the congestion. "Abroad, they have provisions for undertaking road work strictly during the night so that the public is not hassled. Why don't we adopt such measures here?" Gupta said.

"I left my home in Malad (East) around 10.30 am on Thursday. The traffic was practically motionless, especially after I reached the Andheri flyover. The highway was ridiculously packed and there were hardly any policemen to manage the traffic," said Saral Saraf, a 24-year-old businessman.

Traffic police said it was "no entry" for all types of motor vehicles on the south-bound service road, starting at Hans Bhugra junction to Teacher's Colony and Vakola Pipeline Road to Teacher's Colony.