Kalina traffic woes grow as incomplete ‘shortcut’ road near Mumbai University Gate 1 opens to public

The new route lacked basic infrastructure, such as streetlights. FILE PIC/SHADAB KHAN

A shortcut road, which was supposed to ease traffic at Kapadia Nagar Junction in Kalina, has been a problem for many commuters using it. The road, which comes from Mumbai University Gate 1 to Bharat Nagar's UTI building had been open to the public without completion, leaving it lacking infrastructure like dividers, streetlights, and a proper entry point on the Mumbai University Gate 1 side of the road.

A freshly concreted stretch of the road. PICS/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR

mid-day's January 9 report brought the issues to the attention of civic authorities, which residents claim helped restart the work and resulted in a partially opened proper concrete road.

Citizen Speak

A patch that still needs completion

AV Shenoy, Activist, Mumbai Vikas Samithi

Earlier, the road had been full of pebbles, and it was impossible to have a smooth entry, but now, since the civic body opened up the road completely, it has helped commuters a lot. It gives us a smooth entry onto the shortcut, providing an escape from the traffic on the WEH during peak traffic hours.

Jitendra Gupta, Citizens Transport Committee member

Even though a part of the road has been opened, the question which persists is why there has been a delay. Is it because of encroachment or some other reason. The delay will only lead to public money going down the drain.