'No parking, no halting' initiative taken by the traffic police in order to make the Bandra–Worli Sea Link free from people who park their vehicles on the reclamation road, leading to congestion and accident, is being appreciated and welcomed by the commuters. So far, under this plan, the traffic cops have registered over 250 cases.
The initiative which is being enforced on the road leading to the Sea Link from Kherwadi junction towards Bandra reclamation was implemented after the state government observed that the reclamation road had turned into a 'lovers paradise' every evening with cars being parked on the roadside caused inconvenience to commuters travelling on a daily basis. According to the police, the plan is being implemented by both Bandra traffic division and Bandra police station. After campaigning for awareness for around 15 days, the police later opt for legal action against the defaulters.
Speaking about the cases registered, police inspector Nitin Patil of the traffic division said, "The construction of Sea Link started in the year 2000 and it ended by 2010. In this decade, the spot began a turn into a lovers point where couples used to come, spend time and then leave. Now the spot had turned into a lover's paradise and this identity required correction. Also, a major chunk of the vehicles included were the two-wheelers and then cars. Couples coming to the Sea Link used to park their vehicles on both sides of the road which not just created jams and moving traffic but it also posed as a threat for accidents," It has also been observed that the cars are parked on the road's edge at weekends and cars going or coming from the sea link get stuck in traffic.
A police officer said that people across the world coming to visit the city definitely come to the sea link and on looking at the 5.6 kilometre stretch as a lovers nook does not create a good gesture. "As we all know that the city has many such places for hanging out and enjoying so the said area is being told to keep couples free. The defaulters shall be definitely booked and we have intensified patrolling and surveillance to keep a close eye on such things," the officer said.
KEY INSIGHTS
- After campaigning for awareness for around 15 days, the police later opted for legal action
- According to officers, the spot had turned into a ‘lover’s paradise’ and this identity required correction
- The initiative is being enforced on the road leading to the Sea Link