Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 20: In a major relief for daily commuters, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Borivli Traffic Police have successfully eased the chronic congestion on the western side of Borivli railway station by sealing 12 pedestrian crossings along a 100-metre stretch of SV Road — between Moksh Plaza and Goragandhi Juice Corner.

This patch, notorious for traffic snarls and pedestrian chaos, earlier took motorists nearly 15 minutes to cover. However, with the new measures in place, the road is now moving smoothly even during peak hours.

For years, the area was heavily encroached upon by vegetable vendors, causing severe narrowing of the road. Following repeated reports highlighting the issue, the BMC acted sternly, clearing the spot of illegal hawkers.

Speaking to Daijiworld on condition of anonymity, a traffic police officer said, “Three months ago, we held a meeting with BMC’s R-Central ward officials and identified 12 unsafe pedestrian gaps used as shortcuts. We decided to permanently block these crossings to streamline movement. This stretch has several commercial hubs, including the busy Indraprasth Shopping Centre, which witnesses massive footfall. So, crossings in front of the centre were also barricaded.”

The traffic department, with support from the BMC, installed barricades and metal fencing to prevent pedestrians from climbing over or creating new gaps. “Earlier, vehicles crawled for 15 minutes here. Now, the stretch is congestion-free. Borivlikars are genuinely pleased with the improvement,” the officer added.

A BMC official confirmed that the civic body is continuously acting against illegal hawkers. “With assistance from Borivli police, our teams are deployed at vegetable markets to curb unauthorised vending on the roads,” the official stated.

With strict enforcement and coordinated efforts, the once-choked stretch of SV Road is now witnessing a rare breath of order and relief for thousands of commuters.