‘BKC Traffic Situation Worsening’: Buses To Wider Roads, Mumbai Guardian Minister Sends Suggestions To MMRDA

Taking note of the increasing traffic congestion at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) over the past six months, Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha called for immediate action in a strongly worded letter to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee.

“The situation at BKC is deteriorating rapidly. The ongoing Metro work has significantly reduced the width of the roads, and despite the development of cycle tracks and gardens, these facilities are underutilised by cyclists,” Minister Lodha noted. He emphasised that the issue has been a topic of continuous discussion among concerned citizens and officials, underscoring the urgent need for practical interventions.

In his letter, Lodha proposed several key measures to alleviate the congestion. Among them is the reintegration of bicycle lanes back into the main road while relocating the cycle track to an adjacent plot within BKC. This adjustment, he believes, will ensure the safety of cyclists while freeing up crucial road space for vehicles.

Lodha urged the optimisation of barriers used for Metro construction, suggesting that these should be minimised to occupy the least possible space on the already congested roads. Another recommendation was for the MMRDA to introduce special bus services from Bandra station to BKC. Such a move, Lodha argued, would reduce the dependence on taxis and rickshaws, mitigating the problems associated with crowding and inflated fares.

Lodha’s letter also highlighted the disproportionate allocation of space within BKC. He pointed out that while the Bharat Diamond Bourse has 21 meters allocated for footpaths and gardens, the adjacent four-lane road has only 15 meters. This imbalance, according to Lodha, is a major contributing factor to the traffic snarls and needs to be addressed with infrastructural adjustments.

To expedite the resolution of these issues, Lodha suggested the widening of roads within BKC, to keep the left lane open. He also called for implementation of smart signalling and traffic systems to streamline vehicle flow and proposed the creation of a dedicated traffic division under the BKC Police Station to manage the area’s challenges.

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