Traffic congestion on Kalyan-Shilphata Road has intensified during Ganeshotsav as vehicles continue to enter the wrong carriageway, affecting residents travelling through the Kolshewadi traffic division area and surrounding communities in Kalyan-Dombivli.
The road, which regularly experiences congestion, has seen heavier traffic during the festival as residents travel for Ganpati darshan and family gatherings. Commuters expected traffic arrangements to be strengthened during the festival period, but vehicles entering from the opposite direction have continued to add to the delays, according to a report by Loksatta – Thane.
Passengers have complained that traffic police are not taking sufficiently strict action against drivers using the wrong side of the road. The report said commuters alleged that officers sometimes allow such vehicles to proceed without action in order to prevent the congestion from worsening at the location. Residents said this approach may be encouraging more motorists to enter the wrong lane.
The congestion is affecting people travelling through Manpada, Sonarpada, Golavali, Nilje, Umbারli, Katai, Kole, Palava, Desai and Khidkali village areas. These locations are connected to the Kalyan-Shilphata road network, making the route important for residents travelling between residential, village and developing urban areas around Kalyan-Dombivli.
The disruption has been particularly significant during festival travel. Many residents leave their homes to visit relatives for Ganesh darshan and meals. Villagers living along the Shilphata road told Loksatta that vehicles getting trapped in traffic has caused people to reach their destinations late, leaving relatives waiting and disrupting planned household gatherings.
The situation also highlights the operational challenge of managing congestion when traffic violations are treated primarily as a short-term obstruction issue. If wrong-side driving is allowed to avoid an immediate stoppage, the practice can add competing vehicle movements to an already congested road and make traffic conditions harder to control. The report, however, did not provide figures on the number of vehicles involved, the duration of delays, enforcement action taken or any revised traffic-management plan.
The complaints have been directed at the functioning of the Kolshewadi traffic police division. The supplied report did not include a response from the traffic police or details of any official diversion, enforcement drive or festival-specific deployment. The immediate concern for commuters remains the continued entry of vehicles into the opposite carriageway and the resulting congestion on Kalyan-Shilphata Road.
