The Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai Traffic Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-evaluate traffic restrictions imposed in the Crawford Market area after it was brought to the court’s notice that local business operations had been adversely affected. The matter has been linked to traffic management measures introduced during the redevelopment of a nearby municipal fish market, and an appropriate decision has been sought by December 31.
The issue was examined while a petition filed by a transport services operator with an office in the Green Stone Heritage Building on MRA Marg was being heard. It was submitted that a traffic notification issued in October 2021 had significantly altered existing traffic and parking arrangements in the area. Under the revised notification, the stretch was declared a no-parking zone, loading and unloading of goods were barred on both sides of the road, and two-way vehicular movement was introduced. In addition, temporary stalls and storage spaces located near the JJ Flyover were removed.
It was argued before the court that these restrictions had led to serious operational challenges for transport-related businesses functioning in the area. The petitioner maintained that vehicles could no longer halt or be stationed near the premises, thereby disrupting routine logistics and affecting commercial viability. The notification was described as having been enforced without adequate consideration of the concerns of traders who depended on vehicular access for daily operations.
The court was informed that the traffic restrictions had been implemented pursuant to an earlier judicial order passed in connection with traffic management requirements during the redevelopment of a municipal fish market located in close proximity to Crawford Market. However, it was contended that the subsequent notification had gone beyond traffic regulation and had altered long-standing arrangements that businesses had relied upon.
An interim request seeking permission for goods vehicles to halt and for private vehicles to be parked along MRA Marg was also placed before the court. This request, however, was not accepted at this stage. It was observed that staying the notification immediately would not be appropriate without a detailed assessment of public interest considerations.
Instead, the division bench comprising Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe directed that the representation submitted by the petitioner be examined by the deputy commissioner of police (traffic, south region) and the concerned BMC officials. The authorities were instructed to consider the grievances raised and arrive at an “appropriate decision in public interest” within a defined timeline.
The court’s direction has been viewed as an attempt to strike a balance between infrastructure development, traffic regulation, and the livelihood concerns of businesses operating in densely populated commercial zones. The final outcome is expected to provide clarity on whether any modifications or relief measures will be introduced while ensuring that broader urban planning and traffic management objectives continue to be addressed.
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