If you are planning to travel using the Western Express Highway, we suggest you either pack and leave early or use another route because Massive traffic jams have been witnessed on the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Mumbai since last year due to an ongoing expansion and maintenance project on the Akurli Underpass in Kandivali East.
The project, which began in 2019 was halted for nearly a year due to the presence of a gas pipeline at the piling site. In contrast to the initial 40-day deadline, Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) took six months, according to the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA). The underpass widening project's completion has been greatly delayed by this delay.
Police on the Move to Reduce Traffic
In an attempt to relieve the traffic congestion, the Mumbai traffic police created one lane for northbound traffic on the opposite side of the expressway. But now that the gas pipeline has been moved, the project should be completed by August 2024.
Extension to Widen the Underpass
After more than a year of extreme congestion, motorists on the Western Express Highway should see a major improvement as a result of this extension.
Reasons for the Extended Traffic Problems
Here are some reasons for extending traffic problems at Western Express Highway:
Postponed Pipeline Transfer
The delay in moving the gas pipeline at the Akurli Underpass project's piling site is the main cause of the protracted traffic bottlenecks on the WEH. Although the MMRDA had projected that the pipeline relocation would take 40 days, it took six months, which caused a considerable delay in the expansion work.
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Partial Underpass Extension
The underpass widening project which started in 2019 had to be put on hold for over a year because of the gas pipeline. This pause in the building project has resulted in the insufficient underpass extension, which is the cause of the ongoing traffic jams on the WEH.
Effect of Severe Traffic Jams on Commuters
The Western Express Highway is now experiencing severe traffic jams due to the ongoing Akurli Underpass extension work, which is causing commuters to endure lengthy delays and slow-moving traffic. It has been especially difficult for people to commute during rush hours.
Residents' Inconvenience
Not only have travelers been impacted by the traffic congestion, but residents have also experienced severe inconvenience. The local community is more irritated overall and travel times and fuel consumption have increased as a result of the protracted traffic congestion.
Schedule and Anticipations
The MMRDA estimates that the Akurli Underpass expansion project will be finished by August 2024 as soon as the relocation of the gas pipeline is complete. Based on this timeframe, it appears that the Western Express Highway's traffic problems will probably last for a few more months.
Expected Relief Following Expansion
After the underpass extension is finished, travelers on the WEH should experience a dramatic improvement in width—from 16 to 33 meters. The area has been plagued by traffic congestion for more than a year; the larger underpass should help ease it.
To summarize, Long-lasting traffic bottlenecks on the Western Express Highway are a result of the continuing construction work on Mumbai's Akurli Underpass, greatly inconveniencing both locals and commuters. The main cause of the project's sluggish pace and the unfinished enlargement of the underpass is the delay in moving a gas pipeline at the construction site.
Even though the traffic police in Mumbai have opened an extra lane in an attempt to reduce the congestion, things are likely to get worse until the project is finished, which is currently anticipated to happen in August 2024. The wider underpass is anticipated to offer motorists on the Western Express Highway much-needed relief once the project is approved.
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