Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway Traffic Jam Stretches 10 Km Near Vasai
A severe traffic jam disrupted both carriageways of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway on Friday, September 4, with vehicle queues reported from the Versova Bridge to Maljipada and a stretch of nearly 10 kilometres between Kajupada and Bapane Phata coming to a standstill.
The disruption affected traffic moving towards Mumbai, Thane and Gujarat, as well as vehicles travelling towards Vasai. According to the report, traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway slowed sharply between Ghodbunder Road, Sassoonvghar and Maljipada. Vehicles on the opposite carriageway were also moving at a very slow pace.
The highway is a key road link connecting Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Palghar and Gujarat, making the disruption significant for daily commuters, freight operators and local residents. People travelling to work, schoolchildren and residents leaving for essential activities were reported to have remained stranded for several hours during the morning peak period.
Road repair work in the Kashimira area was one of the immediate causes of the congestion. Traffic on both sides was being handled through a single lane, narrowing the available road space and reducing vehicle speeds. On the Gujarat-bound carriageway, two large containers reportedly broke down near Kutch Darbar and the adjoining stretch, creating another obstruction during the morning rush.
The traffic situation was further worsened when some motorists attempted to drive on the wrong side of the road to escape the queues. The move disrupted traffic flow and created an additional risk for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. The report also said that water accumulation, potholes, accidents and recurring congestion have affected the highway over the past several years.
Traffic-management measures around the Versova flyover added to the effect on commuters from Vasai and Palghar. To ease congestion in the Mira-Bhayandar area, traffic travelling from Vasai towards Mumbai and Thane was reportedly being stopped at the Versova Bridge. This resulted in vehicles backing up from Kajupada to Bapane Phata, leaving the route largely blocked and increasing travel time and fuel consumption for local residents.
Sushant Shrikant Patil, president of the Bhoomiputra Foundation, said that diverting or stopping traffic on other routes for hours to manage a smaller roadwork or accident-related disruption placed an unfair burden on citizens. He called for an immediate administrative solution and separate traffic planning for heavy vehicles.
Traffic police were working to restore normal movement, according to the report. Their efforts included removing the disabled containers, preventing vehicles from travelling against the permitted direction and managing the flow of heavy vehicles. The report did not provide a specific timeline for the complete clearance of the congestion.
