Mumbai: Traffic police clears illegal parking on Relief Road ahead of Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover extension opening

Friday, 2.30 pm to 3 pm: When mid-day visited the stretch again, illegally parked vehicles and drums placed along the road had beem removed by the traffic police, leaving the carriageway free of obstructions

Just days before the opening of the long-awaited extension arm of the Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover, Mumbai Traffic Police have cleared illegally parked heavy vehicles from Relief Road in Jogeshwari West, removing a major obstacle that residents feared could have undermined the project from day one.

The 750-metre, four-lane extension arm is scheduled to open on June 6 and is expected to improve east-west connectivity between Ram Mandir and Goregaon while easing congestion along one of the western suburbs' busiest traffic corridors.

Friday, 9.30 am to 10 am: During a visit to the area, several vehicles were seen parked along the eastbound carriageway leading towards the Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover extension arm. Pics/Ranjeet Jadhav

Residents and commuters had raised concerns that the flyover's landing point on Relief Road could become a fresh bottleneck because trucks, tempos and other heavy vehicles had been illegally parked along both sides of the road for years.

Why Relief Road matters

Relief Road is a critical link connecting:
>> SV Road
>> Link Road
>> Jogeshwari West
>> Goregaon-Ram Mandir corridor

For nearly a decade, residents say heavy vehicles have been parked illegally along both sides of the road, narrowing carriageways and slowing traffic.

What residents feared

Had the road remained blocked by illegally parked vehicles, residents feared:
>> Traffic bottlenecks at the flyover landing point
>> Slower traffic movement
>> Reduced effectiveness of the new connector
>> Congestion spilling onto nearby roads

Residents react

Dhaval Shah, director, Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA)
‘It is encouraging to see that the road has been freed up. This will prevent congestion once the extension arm is opened to commuters.

Vikaas Kalantri, actor
‘With the long-awaited extension arm of the Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover finally set to open for commuters, authorities appear to have taken a crucial step by clearing illegally parked vehicles and removing garages that had encroached upon portions of the Relief Road. Had these obstructions remained, the landing and starting point of the flyover on the Relief Road could have quickly turned into a major bottleneck'

Residents said they now hope authorities will ensure:
>> No return of illegal parking
>> Regular enforcement drives
>> No encroachment by garages along the carriageway

At a glance

Project: Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover extension arm
Opening date: June 6
Length: 750 metres
Width: Four lanes

Expected benefit:
>> Faster east-west travel
>> Improved Ram Mandir-Goregaon connectivity
>> Reduced congestion on local roads

Key development:
>> Illegally parked vehicles removed from Relief Road