Two New Roads to Ease Malad Station Congestion
In a significant step towards reducing traffic congestion near Malad station, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to construct two new arterial roads. These roads, each spanning 9.15 metres in width, will connect SV Road and Anand Road, enhancing accessibility to one of Mumbai’s busiest suburban railway stations.
A recent study conducted by IIT Bombay revealed that Malad’s existing road network sees an overwhelming 8,268 passengers per hour during peak times. The narrow lanes, coupled with challenges like unauthorised hawking, encroachments, and illegal parking, exacerbate the traffic bottlenecks, making daily commutes arduous for residents and visitors. To address this, the civic body has proposed two new routes: one adjacent to Malad Shopping Centre and the other near Somayya Chambers. These developments will involve clearing existing structures along the designated paths, with the BMC assuring that demolitions will follow due legal processes.
Union Commerce Minister and MP for Mumbai (North), Piyush Goyal, has also reviewed the project and emphasised timely execution. Speaking to the media on 4th January, Goyal affirmed that construction is set to commence within three to four months, adding that the initiative would significantly ease traffic and improve the quality of life for Malad residents. The project also includes plans to widen existing roads, such as Anand Road, Kasturba Road, Ishwarlal Parekh Road, and Sainath Road, which act as key arteries leading to the station. Encroachments along these stretches are being cleared to ensure smoother vehicular movement. Once completed, the new roads are expected to not only streamline traffic flow but also reduce travel time for commuters. The initiative marks a crucial milestone in improving urban mobility in Malad and reflects Mumbai’s broader efforts to address its pressing infrastructure challenges.
