BKC’s traffic tangle: Experts call for a reset

Following a series on BKC and its failing infrastructure Bhaumik Gowande Urban Transport Planner at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs recommended a longterm solution that involves segregating vehicles traversing to BKC from those passing through elsewhereldquoA longterm solution requires a dedicated accesscontrolled street system to ensure that vehicles traversing the city do not interfere with those travelling to BKC Such an intervention could restore order to the chaotic traffic patterns that currently define the areardquo Gowande told middayldquoOne of the most glaring issues is the carcentric design Unlike traditional gridbased planning seen in cities like Chandigarh or Gandhinagar BKCrsquos roads are not laid out in an efficient grid pattern Instead the layout is structured around individual plots forcing cars to navigate circuitous routes to reach their destinations For a city that prides itself on its public transport network this reliance on automobiles is a major oversight contributing to congestion and inefficienciesrdquo Gowande addedldquoThe zoning and landuse decisions that shaped BKC heavily prioritised largescale commercial development neglecting smaller mixeduse spaces This imbalance has led to a lack of residential options within the area pushing workers to commute from other parts of the city Like many global downtown districts BKC is eerily quiet after hoursmdasha sign of limited residential integration The stark separation of commercial and residential zones has intensified daily traffic as people are forced to drive in and out of the district rather than living and working in close proximityrdquo he saidMMRDA acts as a special planning authority for the BKC area File picAshish RajeGowande also highlighted another major planning misstep the failure to integrate BKC into Mumbairsquos larger rapid transit network ldquoGiven the cityrsquos transitdependent nature one would have expected BKC to serve as a central hub in Mumbairsquos transport plans Ideally BKC should have a single station for highspeed rail and all Metro lines akin to Grand Central in New York City or Berlin Hauptbahnhof in Germany Currently the highspeed railway site and the BKC Aqua Line station are more than 1 km apart while the potential ILampFS station is also not within walking distance of the HSR station Historically BKC was largely left out of initial transit connections Public transport users are forced to rely on autorickshaws and taxis to reach the area as bus services remain insufficient and poorly optimised This further clogs BKCrsquos streets exacerbating congestionrdquo he explainedldquoThe notorious lsquorickshaw menacersquo and perpetually delayed bus services are symptomatic of broader infrastructure shortcomings Around half a million people travel to BKC daily yet no comprehensive transit solution has been developed As Mumbai continues to evolve so must its urban centres For BKC to truly fulfil its promise as a leading business district it must address past mistakes and adopt a more holistic transitoriented futurerdquo Gowande concludedWhat MMRDA has done so farThe MMRDA acts as a special planning authority for the BKC area Key infrastructure projects led by MMRDA in BKC include constructing internal roads underground utility ducts footpaths and parking areasBKC connector flyoverTo enhance connectivity and ease traffic flow MMRDA constructed the BKC connector flyover linking the Eastern Express Highway to BKC This 16kmlong 22 lane flyover was completed and opened to traffic in 2019Kalanagar flyover constructionTo address increasing congestion at Kalanagar junction which sees traffic from the BandraWorli Sea Link Western Expressway Dharavi and BKC MMRDA proposed the Kalanagar flyover project This flyover connects BKC with the BandraWorli Sea Link and has three arms B C and D Arms B and C opened in 2021 with Arm D now completedPedestrianfriendly upgrades in BKCMMRDArsquos engineering division is refurbishing footpaths along BKCrsquos internal roads to improve pedestrian mobilityMetro Line 2B connectivityMetro Line 2B running from DN Nagar to Mandale is a 236km elevated corridor with 19 stations It provides interconnectivity with major transport routes including the Western Express Highway Eastern Express Highway railways and other Metro lines enhancing access to BKCrsquos commercial and government bodiesAutomated Rapid Transit System ARTS for BKCThe Automated Rapid Transit System ARTS aims to provide seamless connectivity from Kurla and Bandra suburban stations to BKC This 89km network with 38 stations implemented on a PPP basis was approved by MMRDArsquos 282nd Executive Committee Sai Green Mobility Private Limited in partnership with Ultra PRT has been appointed as the contractor The project is expected to improve lastmile connectivity for 4 to 6 lakh daily BKC commutersBKC Art Plaza A cultural hubMMRDA has developed the BKC Art Plaza on vacant land south of Nandadeep Garden near the Mithi River Covering 1054532 sq mt the site includes a hardscape area of 754726 sq mt and a softscape area of 25536 sq mt Located 850 m from Bandra station and 1 km from Metro Line 2Brsquos EBlock station the Art Plaza is envisioned as a vibrant community space for meetings recreation exhibitions and seasonal stalls 2019Year BKC connector was opened