Mumbai: Heavy vehicles have been banned from entering Mumbai via the Dahisar toll plaza during morning peak hours in an attempt to alleviate severe traffic congestion. The Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) traffic police imposed this restriction on Tuesday, prohibiting trucks, trailers, multi-axle vehicles and inter-state and inter-district private buses from entering between 8:00 am and 11:30 am. The ban applies to vehicles coming from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and Thane.

Similar Step Taken By Mumbai Traffic Police In 2022

This move follows a similar restriction enforced by the Mumbai traffic police in June 2022, which barred heavy vehicles from operating in the city during peak hours. However, enforcing this within Mumbai proved challenging. To improve effectiveness, the Mumbai traffic police requested MBVV authorities to stop southbound heavy vehicles at Dahisar itself, rather than attempting to regulate them after they had already entered the city.

Transport Minister Looks Into Traffic Issue At Dahisar Toll Naka

Just last week, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik directed officials to introduce separate lanes for heavy vehicles and four-wheelers at the Dahisar toll plaza to ease congestion. His directive came after his own convoy experienced a 10-15 minute delay due to long queues at the toll naka.

MBVV traffic officials acknowledged that traffic bottlenecks at Dahisar toll plaza were a major issue, with long queues forming on the Western Express Highway. Though the toll is primarily for heavy vehicles, four-wheelers were also affected as both shared the same lanes.

“This was causing inconvenience to smaller vehicles, emergency services, ambulances, and VIP convoys, leading to potential law and order concerns,” Suhas Bavche, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, MBVV told HT. He confirmed that a formal notification was issued under Section 33 (1) (b) of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, and the Motor Vehicles Act.

To better manage traffic flow on the national highway and service roads in Mira-Bhayandar, as well as other crucial city roads, it was deemed necessary to restrict heavy and large vehicles from entering Mumbai from Versova (Versave Police Chowki/Hotel Fountain) during peak hours, Bavche added.

Which Vehicles Have Been Exempted?

However, exemptions have been made for essential service vehicles, including police, revenue department, fire brigade tenders, drinking water tankers, school buses, vegetable transport vehicles, ambulances and vehicles authorised by the police, district magistrates of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar, municipal commissioners of Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar and the National Highways Authority of India.