Mumbai: Illegal parking, scraps choking Ghatkopar road

There are scores of abandoned vehicles on the main and internal roads in the area

The bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road is the fallout of scores of illegally parked and abandoned vehicles on both sides, said Shivaji Nagar legislator Abu Asim Azmi as he urged the traffic department to find a permanent solution to the problem on the busy carriageway.

The MLA along with a few locals recently met Joint Commissioner of Traffic Yashashvi Yadav to highlight the narrowing of the key road due to unauthorised parking and too many hawkers.

An eatery blocks a portion of the road. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

The road connects the Eastern Express Highway with the Sion-Trombay road leading to Navi Mumbai. However, it turns into a hell for motorists and locals during peak hours.

"The traffic jam on the road has been causing a lot of inconvenience to residents of Shivaji Nagar, Gautam Nagar, Baigan Wadi, Chheda Nagar and Mankhurd. Time and again, we have reminded authorities to resolve it, but the problem has remained the same," Azmi told mid-day.

Abu Azmi hands over their petition to top traffic cop Yashashvi Yadav

The politician sought a special traffic chowki at Shivaji Nagar to manage traffic. Azmi shared pictures to explain the massive jams on the road.

"The illegally parked vehicles and hawkers are narrowing not only the main road but the internal roads leading to the highway as well. There are also hundreds of abandoned vehicles lying along the road," said the MLA. Officials said Yadav has asked the east division of his department to tow the illegally parked vehicles and deploy cops at major junctions during peak hours.

Authorities have started towing away abandoned vehicles

"Unauthorised parking in front of restaurants and tea vendors is the main culprit but auto drivers also create nuisance and contribute to the congestion.," said Govandi resident Waseem Qureshi.

Traffic department officials said they carried out a drive on Thursday. "We towed away 85 abandoned vehicles, 124 illegally parked vehicles. More than 200 people were challaned for traffic violations," said traffic inspector Kishor Shinde of Mankhurd division.