Mumbai reports surge in traffic

As private offices have opened up to 30 per cent of their capacity and inter-district norms have been eased, the city of Mumbai experienced a surge in vehicular traffic.

Mumbai has been famous for its jam-packed roads, however, due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the situation had improved a little, however, with the state of Maharashtra getting into the fourth phase of Unlock, the streets have been overcrowded with cars and two-wheelers.

On Wednesday, September 2, massive traffic jams were reported on the eastern express highway (EEH) due to two incidents which took place in the mornings between 9.30 to 10.30 am.

According to the Vikhroli traffic division, a container which was coming from Jogeshwari to Vikhroli through Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) broke down near Gandhi Nagar. The second incident was reported near the Ghatkopar flyover on EEH, where a car hit two bikes. However, no major injuries were reported as a result of the accident.

As part of its ‘Mission Begin Again’, the state government from Wednesday permitted private offices to work with 30 per cent strength from the 10 per cent limit. In government offices, the officers belonging to Group A (Executive) and B (Gazetted) will have to work at 100 per cent strength.

However, other state government staff are to attend the workplaces with a 30 per cent strength in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Municipal Corporations of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad. The strength of government staff has been increased to 50 per cent in the rest of Maharashtra. Moreover, the state government has also dropped the requirement of permission or e-permit for inter-district travel.