Residents oppose road alignment

The traffic police had to bow down to pressure from residents of Bandra Reclamation and discontinue — after just 12 hours — its initiative of turning the roads outside Lilavati Hospital into one-way streets as the residents complained that the additional traffic in the bylanes would disrupt and endanger their lives.

The traffic police at Bandra junction, however, defended the move saying the dividers had been put on a trial basis and were removed soon after studying the benefits and shortfalls involved in the same.

An official said the traffic Lilavati Hospital junction had become chronic and hence, it was decided to make the road outside the hospital a one-way road for north-bound traffic. The General Arun Kumar Vaidya Marg was also made one-way for south-bound traffic that would exit towards Reclamation road through the bylanes near the General Arun Kumar Vaidya ground.

“Announcements about the changes had been made on August 30 and 31 and the same was to be implemented since September 1. However, as it was mid-week the senior officials decided to postpone it till the weekend,” said the traffic police official.

However, as vehicular traffic started streaming into the bylanes near the Vaidya ground, local residents became worried and concerned for the safety of the children and senior citizens. “During peak hours the traffic is mammoth and even if it gets distributed in the three bylanes it will create a huge problem for residents as the roads are wide enough for singular vehicle movement only. In case if a vehicle breakdowns, the entire bylane will become inaccessible. Hence the residents went and met traffic officials and requested them to do away with the dividers,” said Pradeep Sankhe, a resident of General Arun Kumar Vaidya Rahiwasi Sangh.

Following the representation by residents, the traffic police had to remove the permanent dividers by noon and the previous traffic route was restored.