Commuters Frustrated by Poor Design and Traffic Chaos on Vikhroli Bridge

The newly opened Vikhroli bridge in Mumbai, designed to ease congestion between LBS Marg and the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), has instead become a source of frustration for daily commuters. Just two weeks since its inauguration, the 615-metre, three-lane bridge is plagued with slow-moving traffic, poor design elements, and chaotic junctions, especially at the eastern end near the EEH.

Commuters are complaining about winding traffic jams, a lack of traffic signals, and a flawed road layout. The bridge, which lacks a central median, forces bi-directional traffic into risky, slow movement, with autorickshaws often using lanes meant for opposite-direction traffic. Several speedbreakers also contribute to reducing the average speed to under 5 km/hr.

The eastern-end of the bridge, which connects multiple roads and leads to areas like Kannamwar Nagar, Tagore Nagar, and Vikhroli Station, is particularly problematic due to the absence of a proper signal system. Local residents and commuter groups claim their warnings to authorities were ignored.

Municipal officials have acknowledged the design issues and promised to widen the road after shifting a beautification wall blocking the proposed expansion. Plans for a roundabout and traffic signals are also under discussion to ease congestion.

Despite deployment of traffic police during peak hours, commuters and residents remain irked by the daily delays and detours caused by the flawed design of the Vikhroli bridge.