Mumbai, here's how you can avoid traffic nightmare ahead of Bhartiya Janta Party's public rally

With over five lakh people expected to participate in the Bhartiya Janta Party's mammoth public rally on Friday, Mumbai traffic police have issued an advisory asking to avoid Sion Chembur Link Road, CST Road, Nehru Road till Ambedkar junction, and Sharadadevi Road. Heavy traffic congestion is likely to occur on the approach roads from the Western and Eastern Express Highway towards Bandra Kurla Complex.

To ensure smooth traffic, police have restricted the entry of heavy vehicles from 7am to 10pm on Friday. Heavy police bandobast has been deployed to maintain law and order situation in the city.

Movement of heavy vehicles entering Mumbai from Anandnagar Check Naka in Mulund East, Modela Check Naka in Mulund West, Airoli Check Naka and Vashi Check Naka has been completely restricted.

"We have asked our counterparts in Thane and Navi Mumbai to divert or stop heavy vehicles from entering the city. Due to massive public participation, commuters have been advised to plan their travel accordingly," said a senior Traffic police officer.

Traffic cops have advised commuters to use alternate routes such as Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, and the Eastern Freeway to reach the Eastern suburbs of the city. Similarly, to travel to the western suburbs, commuters have been advised to take SV Road and Linking Road to avoid traffic snarls.

Deepak Deoraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, and spokesperson for Mumbai police, said, "We have deployed Quick Response Team, State Reserve Police Force, Riot Control Police, and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad to ensure safety. Over five hundred policemen will be deployed to maintain law and order situation in the city during the rally."

ROUTES ADVISORY

• Routes suggested: JVLR, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Eastern Freeway to reach Eastern suburbs. SV Road, Linking Road to reach Western Suburbs.
   
• Routes to avoid: Sion Chembur Link Road, CST Road, Nehru Road till Ambedkar junction and Sharadadevi Road. Heavy traffic congestion likely on the approach roads from the Western and Eastern Express Highway towards Bandra Kurla Complex.