Nitin Gadkari has a new plan for Mumbai traffic: After getting stuck for an hour, minister proposes a tech-driven solution to the city’s congestion problem
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently faced frustrating traffic delays in Mumbai, prompting him to reflect on the 55 flyovers and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link he constructed years ago. With today's traffic vastly increased, he highlighted the urgent need for modern solutions, proposing the development of multi-level structures to maximize roadway efficiency within the constrained urban landscape.
Mumbai’s traffic woes are well-known, with long commutes and congested roads plaguing residents daily. Recently, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari experienced this firsthand during his commute from Worli to a Mumbai event. His journey was delayed by around an hour due to heavy traffic, prompting Gadkari to discuss the limitations of older flyovers and the need for modern infrastructure.
During a recent event, Gadkari revealed that he got stuck in traffic for an hour on his way to the 22nd Indo-American Corporate Excellence Awards, highlighting the city's ongoing infrastructure challenges. Reflecting on his tenure as Public Works Minister from 1995 to 2000, Gadkari recounted the construction of 55 flyovers, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. However, he noted that the technology available at the time was insufficient to handle today's traffic volumes.
Mumbai's traffic problem is not solely about the number of vehicles on the roads but also about the outdated infrastructure grappling with increased traffic. The city has grown significantly since the 1990s, with daily traffic now spanning South Mumbai, the western suburbs, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and beyond. As traffic volumes have surged, infrastructure from the past can now become a bottleneck, particularly at major junctions and arterial roads.
Gadkari has been advocating for a shift towards modern multi-level flyovers, suggesting that using newer construction technologies could enable the creation of more road capacity within limited urban spaces. He also mentioned that India recently acquired technology from Malaysia, which could facilitate the construction of several levels of flyovers using a single set of pillars, thus optimizing urban space.
Additionally, Gadkari proposed a Rs 50,000 crore infrastructure plan for Pune, emphasizing the importance of employing newer technologies and infrastructure models to address the growing urban mobility challenges faced by densely populated cities like Mumbai.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
