Mumbai Police Announce Traffic Diversions for Ganesh Visarjan; Coastal Road to Remain Open 24/7
Mumbai, 16th September 2024: The Ganpati festival, which started on September 7, will conclude with Ganesh Visarjan on September 17. The 10-day celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi wrap up with the immersion of idols on Anant Chaturdashi.
To handle the crowds during Ganesh Visarjan, Mumbai Police has issued a traffic advisory. There will be diversions across the city to manage the large processions for idol immersion.
The Coastal Road will remain open 24 hours a day until September 18 to facilitate travel between North and South Mumbai. However, the police recommend using local trains and BEST buses instead of private vehicles to avoid traffic congestion, according to a Free Press Journal report.
Traffic Diversions and Road Closures
New guidelines have been introduced for Railway Overbridges (ROBs), limiting the number of people crossing each ROB to 100 at a time. For safety reasons, processions, dancing, and loudspeakers are prohibited on the ROBs.
While the Coastal Road will offer a convenient route from North to South Mumbai, significant roads such as the Eastern Freeway, P D’Mello Road, CSMT Junction Road, and Princess Street will remain unrestricted.
In South Mumbai, roads including Colaba, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Captain Prakash Pethe Marg, and Rambhau Salgaonkar Marg will be closed. Mahapalika Marg outside CSMT railway station, along with various roads in Kalbadevi such as JSS Road, Vitthalbhai Patel Road, Baba Saheb Jaykar Road, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Caswasji Patel Tank Road, Sant Sena Marg, Nanubhai Desai Road, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road, will also be closed to vehicles.
Areas Anticipated to Experience Heavy Congestion
The immersion activities are likely to cause significant congestion in areas leading to Girgaon Chowpatty, including Girgaon, Thakurdwar, VP Road, JSS Road, SVP Road, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road in Kalbadevi, Cuffe Parade, Badhwar Park in Colaba, Metro Junction near CSMT, and various junctions in Bhendi Bazaar, Pydhonie, and DB Marg.
Heavy traffic and pedestrian congestion are expected in Nagpada areas such as Agripada, Nagpada Junction, Saat Rasta Junction, Khada Parsee Junction, NM Joshi Marg, Chinchpokli Junction, and Mumbai Central Junction. Motorists should use main roads as alternatives to inner streets like Dr BA Road, Lalbaug Flyover Bridge, Sir JJ Flyover, and the Coastal Road.
Suburban Traffic Restrictions
In Dadar’s Bhoiwada area, including Hind Mata Junction, Bharat Mata Junction, Parel TT Junction, and Ranjit Bidhakar Chowk, heavy traffic is expected. Dr Annie Besant Road at Worli Naka and NM Joshi Marg will be closed as the Lalbaugcha Raja procession passes through. Swatantraveer Savarkar Marg in Dadar will be closed around Siddhivinayak Temple as the Ganpati processions move towards Shivaji Park Chowpatty.
In the suburbs, Kandivali’s Damu Anna Date Marg will face vehicle restrictions due to idol immersion at the Dahanukar Wadi Immersion Pool. Similarly, traffic will be restricted in Borivali on LT Road near Don Bosco Junction up to Borivali Jetty Road.
Railway Overbridge Restrictions
The traffic police have issued guidelines for 13 Railway Overbridges (ROBs), including those at Ghatkopar, Currey Road, Byculla, Marine Lines, and Dadar Tilak ROB. The number of people crossing each ROB will be limited to 100 at a time, with restrictions on loudspeakers and dancing for safety reasons.
