Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway blocked amid heavy traffic; ambulances forced to drive on wrong side

Ambulance makes its way through traffic on highway. Pic/Kaushal Dubey

Traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, particularly between Naigaon and the bridge over the Vasai creek near Hotel Fountain, has become a growing concern not only for regular motorists but also for emergency vehicles. A Mumbai-based resident who travelled the stretch recently observed that, in an attempt to bypass the heavy traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway, several motorists were driving on the wrong side of the road.

On Sunday afternoon, biker Kaushal Dubey travelled from Dahisar to Palghar. While traffic congestion remains a significant concern along this route, he observed that a more pressing issue is the severe dust pollution, particularly caused by loose mud and debris dumped along the road.

"Traffic congestion on the Mumbai-bound stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway between Vasai and the bridge passing over the creek has been a nightmare for motorists and daily commuters. Shockingly, to avoid traffic jams, motorists are driving on the wrong side of the road, increasing the chances of accidents," Dubey said.

"I was stuck in traffic for nearly 50 minutes. Fortunately, I was on a bike, which made it somewhat manageable. I witnessed at least three ambulances being driven on the wrong side of the road, likely because they were carrying patients and had no other option," added Dubey

Anand Patil, another motorist, pointed out that dust pollution was considerably worse on the Ahmedabad-bound side of the highway. A 16-month-old child passed away last month after the ambulance he was stuck on the National Highway 48.