Mumbai rains: Broken-down vehicles and waterlogging add to woes

MUMBAI: Waterlogging, broken down vehicles and fallen trains caused massive traffic snarls across the city on Tuesday . The traffic police were on their toes, particularly with high tide and Ganpati immersions scheduled for the evening. Officers described it a “crisis situation“ with key roads under water and deployed a majority of the force to guide motorists.The Eastern and Western Express Highways were severely congested; motorists took nearly two-and-half hours to commute from Kandivli to Andheri. Heavy traffic was also reported on the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road, approach roads to Eastern Freeway , JVLR and BandraWorli Sealink. Subways at Andheri, Santacruz and Khar were shut for traffic.As offices were shut earlier than usual, hordes of employees headed back home around the same time. Kanjurmarg resident Radha Arrakal said she took as long as eight hours to cross the distance between Dadar and her residence by road. “Waterlog ging led to snarls on Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road, Ambedkar Road, Hindmata, BKC and Dadar TT,“ a traffic official said.Slow-moving traffic was reported at Akruti mall in Andheri, Bahar Cinema bridge at Vile Parle, Santacruz airport bridge sliproad (south-bound), Chembur to Bandra-Kurla Complex. “It took me three-and-half hours to drive from Malad to Fort in south Mumbai via sealink,“ a motorist said. “I was stuck in a sea of cars at various locations. There wasn't a sip of water to drink,“ he added. Pedder Road was congested from Babulnath Temple to Haji Ali. Waterlogging also resulted in snarls at Andheri, Vakola, Hans Bhugra in Santacruz east, SV Road, Linking Road, Worli seaface, Aarey Colony , Kamani junction in Kurla, LBS Road, Sheetal Cinema in Kurla. “There was a snaking queue of vehicles on Sion flyover and on flyover at Hindmata for hours,“ said Anant Gupta, a banker. Tree collapses affected traffic movement at Udyog Sarthi at MIDC, Andheri east, Nariman Point, Military Road at Marol Maroshi, Cama lane at Ghatkopar east, Arora Junction north-bound, Bhau Daji Lad north-bound, Kurla depot south-bound, traffic police said. Potholes on Malad Link Road led to a bumpy ride and caused delays, motorists said.The traffic police issued diversions wherever necessary . South-bound traffic towards Matunga was diverted to Wadala due to waterlogging at Amar Mahal junction on EEH, SG Barve Road and VN Purav Road. But indiscipline among motorists made matters worse. Around 7 pm, north-bound drivers on WEH took over the south-bound stretch, a witness said.Metro saved the day for commutersMumbai Metro saved the day for stranded Mumbaikars. Many took the Metro to travel from Ghatkopar to western suburbs. Around 2.5 lakh people travelled between Versova-AndheriGhatkopar on Tuesday. Officials said frequency was increased during peak hours.