Western suburbs trapped in traffic gridlock

BUMPER-TO-BUMPER ISSUES | The problems affecting the heavily populated area – and how authorities can solve them

- Megha Kuchik

Mumbai is notorious for traffic congestion, and the western suburbs stand as a prime example of this issue. The suburbs include Andheri, Bandra, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali and Borivali. These neighbourhoods are hubs for residential, commercial and industrial activities. However, their rapid urbanisation has outpaced the development of supporting infrastructure.

Several key factors contribute to traffic congestion. The western suburbs are home to a vast population, many of whom rely on private vehicles or auto-rickshaws for daily commute. This leads to overcrowding on roads, especially during peak hours. Many arterial roads in the suburbs are too narrow to handle the large volume of vehicles. Potholes, uneven surfaces and construction work exacerbate the problem. The western suburbs often face overcrowded trains and limited bus routes. The absence of well-coordinated traffic signals and a lack of enforcement against illegal parking often disrupt the flow of vehicles. Encroachments by hawkers and illegal structures on footpaths further shrink the already limited road space. Construction projects also impact regular traffic.

While essential for long-term improvements, the ongoing Metro, flyover, and road-widening projects contribute to temporary traffic snarls. Construction zones reduce the number of functional lanes, causing bottlenecks.