New flyover, old problem: Illegal parking resurfaces on Relief Road days after opening

Days after Mumbai Traffic Police cleared Relief Road ahead of the opening of the Mrinaltai Gore Flyover extension motorists and local residents allege that illegal parking and roadside encroachments have started returning to the stretchThe road which serves as the landing point of the newly opened 750metre flyover arm connecting Ram Mandir Road and Goregaon West was cleared of illegally parked vehicles and roadside garages before the projects inaugurationHeavy vehicles were seen illegally parked along Relief Road in Jogeshwari WestHowever commuters claim vehicles are once again being parked on the road during evening and night hours while some small garages have resumed operating along the roadside Residents fear that unless immediate enforcement action is taken the flyoverrsquos intended traffic benefits could be underminedWhy this road mattersRelief Road after traffic police cleared illegally parked trucks tempos and other obstructions days before the opening of the Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover extension arm PicsRanjeet JadhavRelief Road connectsgtgt SV Roadgtgt Link Roadgtgt Jogeshwari Westgtgt GoregaonRam Mandir corridorgtgt The road serves as a crucial dispersal route for vehicles using the new flyover extensionBefore the flyover openingOn June 6 midday reported that Mumbai Traffic Police had cleared illegally parked heavy vehicles and roadside encroachments from Relief Road ahead of the inauguration of the flyover extension Residents had welcomed the move saying it would improve traffic flow and prevent congestion around the flyover landing pointBefore and afterJune 5gtgt Illegally parked vehicles removedgtgt Roadside clearance drive conductedgtgt Road space restoredJune 10gtgt Residents allege illegal parking has resumedgtgt Small garages reportedly back on sitegtgt Concerns over future congestionOfficial response awaitedResponses from Mumbai Traffic Police and the concerned BMC ward office regarding the allegations were awaited at the time of going to pressResidents and motorists claimgtgt Vehicles are being parked illegally during evening and night hoursgtgt Some roadside garages have resumed operationsgtgt Portions of the carriageway are again being occupiedgtgt Available road space is shrinkinggtgt Traffic movement could be affectedMotorists speakSamrat PotdarlsquoWe would like to urge the local BMC ward office to take action against the small roadside garages that have begun encroaching upon Relief Road We also request the Traffic Police Department to act against vehicle owners who have once again started parking their vehicles illegally on the road during evening and night hours If timely action is not taken illegal parking in multiple rows could resume reducing road space and leading to traffic congestion and bottlenecksrsquoKaran JotwaniMotorist and Lokhandwala resident Karan Jotwani said We were pleased to see that the authorities had cleared the small roadside garages and illegally parked vehicles from the stretch between the Link Road junction and the starting and landing arm of the Mrinaltai Gore Flyover extension However within just a few days of the flyovers opening vehicles have once again started being parked illegally on the road during the evening and night hours Additionally small roadside garages have resumed occupying portions of the relief road leading towards the Link Road junction reducing the available road space for commuters