Mumbai and Thane residents flag civic woes, from reckless motorists to dug-up roads

I wish to highlight the extremely concerning and deteriorating condition of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway — a route used daily by many commuters, yet one that seems to have fallen completely off the radar of the Ministry of Transport and other authorities responsible. As a daily commuter on this expressway, I can say that the past few months have been nothing short of a nightmare.

Travelling on the expressway has become a nightmare, says a reader. PIC/PTI

Despite paying Rs 320 per trip (Rs 640/day, approx. Rs 12,800/month) in tolls, I am regularly trapped in long traffic jams, facing 30-40 minutes of delay each way, and sometimes far worse during nighttime. Apart from the financial burden, there are major implications on fuel consumption, car maintenance, health, and time.

Despite multiple accidents on this expressway in recent days, there appears to be no proper monitoring, rule enforcement, or meaningful action from the authorities. It is disappointing to see how citizen safety is being compromised on what was once the pride of Maharashtra.
- Sagar R

Ghodbunder Road mess

The current widening of Ghodbunder Road and Metro construction has created an absolute mess. Roads are being laid, then again dug up, again relayed and I really don’t know if there is anyone who is accountable for this mess. They first widen the road, then the engineers realise that they have not thought about the electric poles. So again they start digging the newly relayed roads. It is something that you should see to realise the pain that Ghodbunder residents go through every single day. The roads are being dug up in a completely haphazard manner. And, this is all in the district where the deputy chief minister of Maharshtra resides. There are service roads near Manpada and Patalipada that have been dug up for the last three years. Can you believe it... a portion of 1 km has been repeatedly dug up for the last 2.5 to 3 years. If one vehicle breaks down here, the ensuing traffic jam stretches for for 4-5 kms. We demand an end this digging.
Ravi G Ahuja

Cigarette shop nuisance

A cigarette shop in Bandra West has been operating within 50 metres of a school. Representation pic/istock

Residents of Madhuban building in Bandra West, 224 St Andrew’s Road wish to complain about a corner shop selling cigarettes, mixers, encouraging drugs and alcohol in a lane when it is less than 50 meters from a school. The access to our building is always full of youngsters smoking, cars parked to pick up cigarettes and drinks and it is a huge traffic and safety nightmare. Have complained so many times to the authorities but there has been no help from anyone 
Dipika Agarwal, secretary, Madhuban CHS, Bandra

Choked road

A suggestion by mid-day reader Rohit Midha to the current mess on the 150-metre stretch of road 

I work in Andheri East and stay at Andheri West, and hence travel this route each day morning and evening. In the mornings, I can beat traffic by leaving early. Unfortunately, I can’t do that for the evenings. Work could end anywhere between 6 pm and 9 pm. Irrespective of the time, the 150-metre stretch of road — from the junction of Cardinal Gracious to the WEH (Gundavali Metro Stn) using BD Sawant Marg ends up taking 15 to 25 minutes. While there is no simple solution to the ever-growing vehicles, this 150-metre stretch becomes difficult to navigate owing to the double and triple parking of heavy vehicles — most of them waiting to enter the Parle Agro factory.  Traffic constables spend considerable time (kudos) trying to keep the traffic moving. Can’t the authorities make a simple request to the Chauhans of Parle Agro to help discipline the movement of these commercial vehicles and help partly decongest the road... can very easily become their CSR (reduce pollution and help in sustainability).
Rohit Midha

Responses

mid-day contacted the authorities who sent their responses to your woes. We shall continue to hold officials accountable for the state of the city. 

No streetlights for 10 years

AshokKumar C

Reply: An MMRDA official said, “At certain stretches, street lights along JVLR were temporarily removed due to ongoing construction activities for the Swami Samarth Nagar-Vikhroli elevated Metro corridor. Upon completion of construction in the respective stretches, reinstatement of street lighting is being undertaken by the electricity distribution companies concerned after obtaining the necessary work permissions from BMC, in coordination with MMRDA and DMRC. Out of the total 8.5 km stretch along JVLR where street lighting was affected, reinstatement has been completed for approximately 4.5 km. The balance work is in progress and is expected to be completed by March 2026.”

Auto mess at Kharghar

Amit G

Reply: Tirupati Kakde, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Navi Mumbai said, “Under the leadership of Milind Bharambhe, commissioner of police, Navi Mumbai, curbing traffic mismanagement is a top priority. The Navi Mumbai Traffic Police have intensified action against errant auto drivers. Decoy officers in civil clothes catch drivers demanding excess fares, refusing meters, or misbehaving. In a recent crackdown, 80 drivers were penalised in one day for violations like meter refusal, front-seat passengers, no licence, and obstruction. In Kharghar, under Senior PI Gulfaroz Mujawar, 48,932 cases were registered, 9611 cases filed, and 60 licences suspended.”

Abusive society member

Sagar Mane

Reply: Adv Sunil Pandey stated that receiving abusive or defamatory messages in a housing society WhatsApp group is a serious issue that constitutes both a social nuisance and a potential criminal act in India. Under Sections 353 356,352, 351 of BNS 2023 and the Information Technology Act, 2000, several actions are available to a complainant to hold the perpetrator accountable and to stop the circulation of such messages. Sending abusive, defamatory, or threatening messages in a society WhatsApp group (or other group) and circulating them across multiple groups is a punishable offense under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. 

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