South Mumbai commuters faced heavy traffic jams with several chokepoints on roads leading to Churchgate and CST after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and NCP’s Ajit Pawar were sworn in as the state’s new chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively. Railway stations.
According to traffic officials, vehicular movement has been affected along Madam Cama Road, Marine Drive near Wankhede Stadium and Horniman Circle in Fort.
“Roads leading to and around Churchgate station, including VN Road, R Bubna Chowk, and Maharshi Karve Road were heavily congested,” an official said.
There was also significant congestion between Nagpada Junction and CST railway station.
“Additionally, vehicular movement on PD Melo Road (both south- and north-bound) and Shahid Bhagat Singh Road near Colaba was heavily affected,” an official added.
Police had announced traffic diversions around Azad Maidan and a team of one Additional Commissioner of Police, three Deputy Commissioners of Police, 30 police officers and 250 other personnel were deployed to facilitate vehicular movement during the event.
Mahadev Koli, a resident of Cuffe Parade, said, “I live in Badhwar Park of Cuffe Parade and had left work long ago to reach home early. I took a bus from CST station, but got stuck at that spot for a long time. I even tried to get off the bus and walk, hoping to catch another bus ahead, but it was not possible because of the crowd.”
Rupali Rasne, who works in a private bank near CST, said, ‘Due to the commotion, I could not work all day and even going home had more problems during the swearing-in ceremony.
Some people affected by the traffic jams suggested that political leaders should schedule programs on weekends to avoid such disruptions.