Mumbai’s bustling streets often reveal an alarming sight—two-wheelers and autorickshaws wrongfully traversing access-controlled structures like the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)-Chunabhatti connector and the iconic JJ Flyover. Despite a ban on these vehicles, improper and inadequate signage continues to confuse riders, leading to violations, fines, and safety hazards.
The BKC-Chunabhatti connector, which links BKC Road and the Eastern Express Highway, and the JJ Flyover are critical arterial routes. However, signs prohibiting two-wheelers and three-wheelers are poorly placed and often too small for visibility. Riders realise their mistake only upon encountering traffic police stationed at exit points, where penalties of ₹500 await violators. A visit to these structures highlights glaring signage gaps. On the BKC connector, signs prohibiting two- and three-wheelers are placed on the median, far from drivers’ line of sight. At entry points, the signage is either diminutive or poorly positioned. Returning from Chunabhatti, signage on the Eastern Express Highway is sparse, causing many to unwittingly enter the connector. Similarly, on the JJ Flyover, signs are visible only at either end, and their small font renders them ineffective for riders travelling at speeds of 30-40 kmph.
“Once, I mistakenly took the connector and was stopped by traffic police. The signs were too small to notice while riding,” shared a biker. Commuters echo this sentiment, urging authorities to install larger, strategically positioned signs at least 500 metres before entry points to prevent such violations. Experts attribute the issue to systemic lapses. “The BMC’s roads department is lax about road markings and signage. There’s a lack of coordination between the traffic police and the traffic cell,” says a senior transport expert. Another transport expert, questions the accountability of authorities, arguing that penalising riders for poorly marked roads is unjust. The Roads Interutility Coordination Apex Committee, inactive for over a decade, must prioritise these challenges. Without coordinated efforts, such lapses will persist, compromising commuter safety and mobility on Mumbai’s vital routes.
