Mumbai’s SCLR complete, but BKC-WEH connector faces traffic chokepoints

BKC-bound traffic near the Asian Heart Institute signal on Wednesday afternoon. PIC/NIMESH DAVE

The much-awaited Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) is complete with the opening of the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)-Western Express Highway (WEH) connector. While commuters say it has significantly cut down travel time for motorists heading to and from BKC, many have flagged multiple chokepoints where the connector lands, leading to long queues of traffic that make entry and exit difficult.

BKC-bound traffic from the newly opened flyover moving towards the Asian Heart Institute signal on Wednesday afternoon. PICS/NIMESH DAVE

While commuters said they were thrilled to reach BKC within minutes, they also asserted that locations like the Asian Heart Institute signal have more waiting time than the journey itself. Commuters have raised questions on whether these chokepoints need better traffic management or could have been planned better. A source from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said the alignment and design of the connector was sanctioned by the traffic police department.

[popcorn number="2 weeks" desc="Approximate time officials will take to analyse the rush pattern on bridge" class="Default"]

What MMRDA says...

An MMRDA official
‘SCLR Phase 2 has been handed over to the Mumbai Traffic Police for traffic management and regulation. Accordingly, traffic regulation, including signal timings, U-turn management, and other traffic circulation measures, falls under the purview of the Mumbai Traffic Police. The traffic police are monitoring emerging traffic patterns and undertaking necessary measures based on actual traffic flow. MMRDA will extend all necessary support'

‘Optimisation soon'

BKC traffic police division official
‘Traffic rush from this connector is fresh, and we are actively analysing rush patterns. Reports of delayed traffic movement are true. On Wednesday morning, there was queued up traffic near the Asian Heart signal till 12 noon, but we are actively on the ground streamlining it'

Commuter Speak

Nishant Karkala
‘Very bad [traffic] situation after the opening of this BKC connector. It's a smooth drive till the Asian Heart signal. This chokepoint is the worst as it has a wait of up to 5 minutes'

Akshay Agarwal
‘The southbound WEH to BKC route has no traffic congestion other than at the Asian Heart Institute signal. There is so much congestion that traffic police personnel are needed to clear it. While going from BKC to WEH, there is significant congestion along the route since the bridge merges with SCLR at Panbai International School'

Gurmeet Singh
‘The journey from WEH to BKC has become very smooth. One avoids so much traffic now, allowing one to reach BKC within minutes. However, while heading back from BKC, the first chokepoint is near Kanakia Paris signal: the tall bridge is also choked in the evening. Currently, it saves 5-15 minutes, but I believe it won't withstand the rush in the future.'