Mumbai to witness traffic congestion with PM Modi’s Jahir Sabha and INDIA bloc rally on the same day
While politicians hold rallies and campaigns across the country begging for votes ahead of elections, the road closure at multiple places leading to severe traffic congestion affects the common man who suffers while commuting to and from work. A similar picture can be witnessed in India’s economic capital Mumbai this week amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
PM Modi to attend Jahir Sabha in Dadar
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is hosting a ‘Jahir Sabha’ in Dadar’s Shivaji Park on Friday 17th May, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale and others are expected to attend. BJP is contesting three seats in the city, with Shinde’s Shiv Sena contesting the other three.
INDIA bloc rally at BKC
Showing their strength in the city and political rivalry, another rally is being hosted in Mumbai on the same evening, this one by INDIA bloc. The rally will be held at BKC’s Pathaka Maidan. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole and Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat will address the rally.
IPL Cricket Match
With a large number of supporters flocking the event, a high number of vehicles will be commuting on the Western and Eastern Express highways leading to possible traffic congestion on the way to the venue. Apart from political rallies, an Indian Premier Leage (IPL) match will be hosted at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Mumbai Traffic Police Alerts
As preparation for two major political rallies and a cricket match in the city on the same evening, Mumbai Police has issued a traffic advisory to avoid vehicular congestion on 17th May, Friday.
Traffic restrictions are already in effect from 10 pm on May 16 and will continue until Friday midnight. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mumbai Traffic Police informed:
“Due to a public meeting at Shivaji Park, Dadar and Fataka Ground, BKC alongside an IPL match at Wankhede Stadium, traffic congestion is expected at Marine Drive, Eastern Express Highway (EEH), and Western Express Highway (WEH). Special traffic arrangements will be implemented from 10:00 AM to midnight. Air and Rail passengers are advised to plan alternative routes to ensure timely travel.”
In view of a ‘Jahir Sabha’ organised at Shivaji Park, Dadar on 17th May, a large number of individuals & VVIPs are expected to attend it.
To avoid traffic congestion on WEH & EEH following traffic arrangements will be in place from 10 am to midnight.#MTPTrafficUpdates pic.twitter.com/S8IADnimb6
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) May 16, 2024
Traffic Diversions in Mumbai today
Traffic on the northbound stretch of S V S Road (From Siddhivinayak Junction to Yes Bank Junction) may be diverted along an alternate route (from Siddhivinayak Junction) to S K Bole Road-Agar Bazar-Portuguese Church or S K Bole Road.
For the south bound stretch of SV S Road, traffic will be diverted along Dandekar Chowk to Pandurang Naik Marg, then Raja Badhe Chowk with a right turn to L J Road to Gokhale road or N C Kelkar Road.
No Parking Zones in Mumbai today
Mumbai Police has also declared several areas as ‘no parking zones.’
Here is a list of ares where ‘No Parking’ has been issued by the police for the day:
SVS Road from Baba Saheb Worlikar Chowk (Century Junction) to Hari Om Junction
Entire Keluskar Road South and North in Shivaji Park, Dadar
Entire MB Raut Marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar
Pandurang Naik Marg (road no. 5), Shivaji Park, Dadar
Dadasaheb Rege Marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar
Lt. Dilip Gupta Marg – from Shivaji Park Gate no. 4 to Shitaladevi Road, Shivaji Park, Dadar
L.J Road – from Gadkari Junction in Dadar to Shobha Hotel in Mahim
N.C Kelkar Road from Hanuman Temple Junction to Gadkari Junction, Shivaji Park, Dadar
T.H Kataria Road – from Ganga Vihar Junction to Asawari Junction in Mahim
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (BA) Road – from Maheshwari Circle to Kohinoor Junction, Dadar (East)
Tilak Road – from Kotwal Garden Circle in Dadar (West) to Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg in Matunga (East)
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road from Sea Link Road to JK Kapur Chowk upto Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk
Thadani Road from Poddar Hospital Junction to Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk
Dr. Annie Besant Road from Poddar Hospital Junction to Dr. Narayan Hardikar Junction.
Where to Park for those attending Jahir Sabha
Western and Northern Suburbs: Vehicles coming from Western and Northern suburbs through Western Express Highway shall drop the participants on Senapati Bapat Road between Mahim Railway Station and Ruparel college area and proceed for parking at Mahim Reti Bander, Kohinoor PPL Parking, India Bulls Finance Centre PPL Parking, Kamagar Stadium and on Senapati Bapat Road. Light Motor Vehicles can be parked at India Bulls One Centre PPL parking.
Eastern Suburbs: Vehicles coming from Thane and Navi Mumbai using Eastern Express Highway shall alight participants near Dadar T.T Circle and proceed for parking towards Five Gardens, Matunga and R.A.K 4 roads.
City and South Mumbai: Vehicles coming from South Mumbai using Veer Savarkar Road shall alight participants at Ravindranath Natya Mandir and proceed for parking at India Bulls Finance Centre PPL parking, Raheja PPL Parking, Sudam Kalu Ahire Road, Worli, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Glaxo Junction upto Kurne Chowk, Sudam Kalu Ahire Road, Worli, Narayan Hardikar Marg, Sacred Heart High school up to J K Kapur Chowk. Similarly vehicles coming using B. A road shall drop the participants near Dadar T.T Circle and proceed for parking at designated parking place at Five Gardens or R.A.K. 4 Roads.
Buses can be parked on entire Senapati Bapat Marg, Mahim Railway Station upto Tilak Bridge.
Inconvenience to daily commuters
Students returning from college, employees returning from office using their own vehicles or public transport are likely to fall prey to traffic congestion in the city on Friday evening. This comes just a couple of days after Mumbai metro services were suspended between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar Metro Stations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area on Wednesday. Metro services were suspended from 6 p.m on Wednesday, a time at which Mumbai metro experiences a rush hour with commuters returning from work.
While Metro Railway authorities cited “security reasons” behind suspending services, the common citizens of Mumbai were in for harassment as they had to opt for a congested road or the overcrowded local trains. The suspension impacted thousands of commuters as the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Metro service serves as a vital link between the city’s eastern and western suburbs. More than three lakh commuters use the Metro services daily. Not just suspension of metro service, Mumbai Police had issued a strict traffic advisory for the day, closing roads multiple routes from 2pm to 10pm, leading to even more congestion and harassment.
