More worries for Andheri residents

Road closure owing to the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro construction spells long winding traffic jams for residents

More worries for Andheri residents

Road closure owing to the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro construction spells long winding traffic jams for residents

For those living in Andheri, here's more bad news. Those who dreamed that the traffic situation in Andheri at J P Road between Four Bungalows and Indian Oil Nagar would improve soon, will have to wait longer as the junction has been closed to traffic owing to the ongoing construction of the metro car depot access.

Biker Ratnakar Sawant complains that he used to take only 20 minutes to reach Andheri station from Juhu in the morning peak hours but after the road was shut it takes him more than 45 minutes.

The construction of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line has caused immense traffic woes for citizens and with the news of the 500-metre stretch being closed, commuters are complaining of the snarling traffic jams that they will have to endure even further.

According to officials of the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the stretch going towards Andheri will remain shut for two more months.
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"The road has been closed as the metro car depot access is ongoing and our men are working round the clock. I am sure that the road will open before the monsoon causing no inconvenience to motorists," said K P Maheshwari, director of MMOPL.

Diverted traffic

The road being shut to commuters also has a cascading effect on other roads. Buses and motorists using this road have been diverted to use the road via Laxmi Industries and some motorists even have to go all the way to Juhu Circle and then reach Andheri consuming more time and causing traffic snarls at other spots too.

Biker Ratnakar Sawant said, "Earlier, it used to take me only 20 minutes to reach Andheri station in the morning peak hours but after the road was shut it takes me more than 45 minutes and I have to go all the way from Juhu to reach Andheri."

The closing of the road is also a nightmare for Std X students appearing for their SSC exams. Explaining their plight, Ankita said, "On the first day of my exam, I reached my centre, which is in Jogeshwari late. If the JP Road stretch was open I would have reached faster."

The ongoing metro work has also affect the real estate rates in the area. Several buyers are approaching agents with the demand that they want their homes in the area of Seven bungalows and other adjoining areas only after the construction of the metro is over so that they avoid all the problems.

Confirming the impact, Ratnakar Ahire from Unity Ventures said, "The rate around Four bungalows is between Rs 11,000-Rs 12,000 for per square feet and most of the buyers who are approaching us demand possession of the house only after the metro construction is completed."