MUMBAI: Respite for motorists in the western suburbs was brief on Monday as the internal road of SNDT University, thrown open to decongest Juhu traffic, was shut at 7pm. Snarl-ups developed in the evening, choking SV Road, Vaikunthlal Mehta Road, and Linking Road, causing delays of over an hour.
The BMC shut the bridge over SNDT nullah on Juhu Tara Road on June 3 after it was declared dangerous. Signboards and barricades were placed, directing motorists to take a diversion via SV Road. This route was a key connector among Vile Parle, Santacruz and Bandra. The congestion grew worse as the days passed, prompting the authorities to approach SNDT University with a request to open an internal road. The internal road of SNDT University has an exit on Relief Road and was thrown open to the public on Monday morning.
“The joy was short-lived. The road is only open till 7pm, which means it does not cater to evening peak traffic,” said Bhavna Jain, a resident of Juhu Tara Road. “My children were driving home from Bandra on Monday evening and were taken aback to find that the university road was shut. They had to take SV Road, then Vaikunthlal Mehta Road and then Juhu Road to reach the stretch near the university where we live. It was a nightmare as they were stuck for an hour and a half,” said Jain.
“The idea of opening the SNDT road was proposed by locals. We have put up a police beat chowki on the campus and are installing CCTV cameras,” said MLA Ameet Satam. “I’ve written to university authorities to keep the internal road open till 10pm.”
Meanwhile, the BMC said the bridge on Oshiwara nullah, SV Road, was shut for vehicles from late on Monday onwards. This structure too has been declared dangerous. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said that with a portion of SV Road shut at Oshiwara, motorists would have to take long detours. “The area already witnesses massive congestion and yet another bridge closure will only add to the chaos,” Pandit said.
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