In order to ease traffic movement in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has asked offices in BKC to give suggestions on how to smoothen traffic movement, and also adopt car-pooling along with staggering office timings in BKC.
This considering construction work on major infrastructure projects is ongoing or going to start post monsoon, and traffic lanes will be blocked due to this, one on each side.
It includes construction of a bullet train terminal for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train in the coming months followed by DN Nagar-Mandale Metro-2B corridor that will pass via BKC, an elevated road from BKC to Bandra-Worli Sea-Link. Also construction work on Colaba-Seepz Metro-3 underground corridor is already ongoing in BKC due to which diversions are also in place.
A senior MMRDA official said, "We have heard them in a meeting that took place on Thursday, and now asked them to give suggestions on as to what can be done improve traffic movement pace in BKC. Several suggestions like using AC hybrid buses followed staggering of work hours will help easing traffic when construction work is ongoing."
The MMRDA also anticipates that by next decade BKC will reach its saturation point. According to MMRDA, staggering office hours in BKC will ease traffic considering currently around 2 lakh employees try to enter and exit BKC at a similar time which also means movement of around 20,000 vehicles at a time.
Jayesh Shah, from BKC Property Owners Association said, "Several issues like car pooling, staggering of office hours along with using of AC hybrid buses were discussed. We have told them that we will ask employees to use hybrid buses instead of the private buses that we are getting currently, if they are made more affordable."
Shah added, "MMRDA has noted our points, and has also asked us to submit our suggestions, that we will be doing in the next few days."
The MMRDA has asked offices in BKC to stagger time considering it is the special planning authority of BKC. Similarly, the Bombay High court had also asked Maharashtra government of considering, if changing the timings of office, college and schools in order to divide the rush during peak hours.
