[Epic]

Originally Posted by neofromcapone

The traffic condition will definitely get better for all once the metro is operational, case in point is the Versova - Ghatkopar line.

This is something I really doubt and I will explain why.

Let us take the example of the Western Express Highway. We had, if I remember correctly, 04 lanes per side. Let us assume for discussion sake that we have 100 cars traveling per lane per hour. That would make it 400 cars travelling per side per hour.

Now, due to the Metro, one lane is taken by the pillars so we will now have 125 cars travelling per lane per hour; i.e. 25 extra cars per lane with one lane short. This is assuming none of the car travellers use the Metro which I believe could be the case as those used to travelling by cars will continue to do so. And I really hope this is not the case.

Even if we have one lane of cars deciding to use the Metro, we would definitely have 100 cars less per hour but then 03 lanes instead of 04. So ultimately there will be no difference in the traffic scene on the roads.

To summarise - The Metro is no guarantee in easing traffic once it is up and running. Making of the Metro does not widen the road but narrows the road further.

I really wish and pray that the Metro eases traffic but by the looks of it, I don't see it happening. Again, I just pray to be proved wrong here.

Originally Posted by neofromcapone

The Andheri Kurla road traffic is 20% of what it used to be ( well before the construction of that line began)

I beg to differ here. There is a complex called Greenfields just adjacent to the Andheri Metro station which I had visited sometime back. It took me 30 minutes to just get out of the gate and another 15 minutes to get to the highway. That is how bad the traffic has become post the Metro at Andheri.

Originally Posted by neofromcapone

Coming back to Infinity Mall Malad - wherever you see square pillars a station is coming up there.
The circular pillars are part of the route.
Once the RCC work is done on the station the road blocks are removed. Just like outside InOrbit Malad.

Yes, I was guessing that the pillars in the centre of the road is probably for the station but the traffic caused due to this is unjustifiable. I dread to think what what will happen to a patient travelling in an ambulance on that road.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by neofromcapone

The traffic condition will definitely get better for all once the metro is operational, case in point is the Versova - Ghatkopar line.
The Andheri Kurla road traffic is 20% of what it used to be ( well before the construction of that line began)
.

Hahaha
Hope is a nice thing - but let's not blow it out of proportion

For someone who does this route day-in day-out; 20% might be the improvement factor in traffic situation now vs the traffic situation when the metro was in construction; but it's definitely not the current state.

And there are much more factors; than just crediting the metro for reduction in traffic.

1. We in-evidently compare the current situation with the situation when the metro was under construction, not when there was no metro setup on the road; the situation was relatively not that worse-off
2. The metro construction probably opened up funds for the road improvement; the road has been widened a lot with cement blocks been put at many of the sectors (and still in progress)
3. Yes, some credit does go to the metro - for instance, a colleague of mine earlier used to take his vehicle/taxi from Ghatkopar (home) to Goregaon (office). Now he takes the metro to WE highway and then a cab from there.
4. The opening up of the international airport route is the critical factor - majority of the traffic heading south goes via the airport route; this saving the folks on this route
5. Same goes for the SCLR

So will the WE highway metro have such add-on factors to support it? Probably not the same ones; but other factors will eventually turn up to "reduce" the traffic load on the highway.

I instead expect the local EMUs to see some synergical benefits basis the metro rather than the road traffic.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

So will the WE highway metro have such add-on factors to support it? Probably not the same ones; but other factors will eventually turn up to "reduce" the traffic load on the highway.

I seriously wish the lessons learnt from the WE highway Metro work will be accounted for when the Metro work will begin on the Eastern Express highway. I am dreading from now itself the chaotic situation it will be in considering that it links two major NH i.e NH3 and NH4.

[ghodlur]

Commute from Thane to Powai and back is a big big pain these days. The Majiwada, Patlipada, Waghbil flyovers are damaged beyond recognition due to some massive craters/potholes. Taking the car on these roads is calling for damage to the cars.

Add to that Metro work is commencing in Thane with the first bloackage at the Tatvagyan Vidyapith signal on the Ghodbunder Road. Considering that the signal being the busiest and the Ghodbunder Road being the lifeline of Thane it was strange and stupid of the authorities to choose the location to commence the Metro work. The barricading started yesterday on the signal section towards Borivali side which resulted in the traffic pileup upto 1km till the start of the Majiwada flyover. Took me 15 mins to cross the stretch with no traffic cop to handle the madness there. More frustrating days to come ahead. Thinking of ditching the car to office commutes now coz this is going to be a min 5 yr affair.

Anyone has any contacts with the agency who maintains the flyovers in Thane. Tweeting MMRDA, MSRDC writing e-mails has yielded zero response.

[locusjag]

Can anyone confirm or rebut my suspicion that Mumbai motorists are more law-abiding and kind to their fellow motorists/pedestrians, compared to Chennai? This impression is based on what little I've seen while visiting Mumbai.

The scene in Chennai is one of ~30% motorists driving on the wrong side, blatant abuse of high-beams at night, brazenly jumping red lights and hounding meek or law-abiding motorists etc.

Infrastructure issues in Mumbai apart, I found people to be law-abiding and behaving somewhat sensibly there - keeping Chennai in mind.

Your thoughts?

[1lokesh]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Can anyone confirm or rebut my suspicion that Mumbai motorists are more law-abiding and kind to their fellow motorists/pedestrians, compared to Chennai? This impression is based on what little I've seen while visiting Mumbai.

The scene in Chennai is one of ~30% motorists driving on the wrong side, blatant abuse of high-beams at night, brazenly jumping red lights and hounding meek or law-abiding motorists etc.

Infrastructure issues in Mumbai apart, I found people to be law-abiding and behaving somewhat sensibly there - keeping Chennai in mind.

Your thoughts?

Mumbai motorists have gone from better to bad to worse in recent past. When I arrived in Mumbai 4 years ago, I used to feel blessed, more so because I came from Gurgaon

But in past couple of years or so, Mumbai motorists, auto drivers and cab drivers like Uber and Ola have made the driving impossible. Infact now in the hindsight, Gurgaon and Delhi roads look better - purely because of the width they boast. Atleast you have got some space to react and manoeuver. Sigh!

The problems are multiplied with jaywalkers, no provision for pedestrians to cross the roads, poor infrastructure and poorly parked vehicles. And yes, a special mention for runners of Swiggy, Zomato and ilks. They just help completing the full circle of torture.

[Prafful_Rathod]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Commute from Thane to Powai and back is a big big pain these days. The Majiwada, Patlipada, Waghbil flyovers are damaged beyond recognition due to some massive craters/potholes. Taking the car on these roads is calling for damage to the cars.

Add to that Metro work is commencing in Thane with the first bloackage at the Tatvagyan Vidyapith signal on the Ghodbunder Road.

Anyone has any contacts with the agency who maintains the flyovers in Thane. Tweeting MMRDA, MSRDC writing e-mails has yielded zero response.

Yesterday traveled on this route (GB road to Powai) and I had exact thoughts. The time taken from Manpada to crossing Mulund Toll itself has increased considerably. The pathetic condition of the flyovers is a major factor. While we understand that a lot of heavy load traffic passes through the Ghodbunder Road and Eastern Express highway, the quality of tarmac (or whatever you may call it) on the new flyovers is absolutely pathetic. not even built to last one monsoon.

Now coming to Metro work, I hope and pray the leanings from Metro i, II & III are applied in this phase to minimize inconvenience and boost speed of work. But I am still optimistic that after the Metro becomes operational on this route, it should ease daily commute. One thing I am worried about is that there is no Metro stop near Thane Railway station, which would have immensely helped lacs of people commuting thru and fro Ghodbunder Road to Thane railway station.

[ruzbehxyz]

Originally Posted by Prafful_Rathod

One thing I am worried about is that there is no Metro stop near Thane Railway station, which would have immensely helped lacs of people commuting thru and fro Ghodbunder Road to Thane railway station.

Metro line 4 from Wadala to Kasarwadavli will go from Thane.

Source: https://mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/metro-line-4

The Metro Line 4 from Wadala to Kasarvadavali is 32.32 km. long elevated corridor with 32 stations. It shall provide interconnectivity among the existing Eastern Express Roadway, Central Railway, Mono Rail, the ongoing Metro Line 2B (D N Nagar to Mandale), and the proposed Metro Line 5 (Thane to Kalyan), Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli) & Metro Line 8 (Wadala to General Post Office). It shall provide rail based access to the commercial, Govt. bodies and geographical landmarks in Mumbai.

[hrman]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Can anyone confirm or rebut my suspicion that Mumbai motorists are more law-abiding and kind to their fellow motorists/pedestrians, compared to Chennai? This impression is based on what little I've seen while visiting Mumbai.

Infrastructure issues in Mumbai apart, I found people to be law-abiding and behaving somewhat sensibly there - keeping Chennai in mind.

Your thoughts?

I tend to agree with you. Having driven on Mumbai roads for 3 years till 2008, I can say at that time, the traffic and road users were generally considerate compared to Bangalore. Now that I have experienced and driven on Bangalore traffic for 10 years, I can safely vouch that the Mumbai of the yester years was far better and more disciplined than other cities. In the current situation, I think Mumbai is still better than other cities when it comes to discipline. Especially auto drivers, who are less likely to refuse to ply, unlike other cities where they will outright refuse or ask 1.5 times or 2 times meter cost.

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by Prafful_Rathod

One thing I am worried about is that there is no Metro stop near Thane Railway station, which would have immensely helped lacs of people commuting thru and fro Ghodbunder Road to Thane railway station.

Yes that is bad planning actually. Or there are other reasons that we are not aware of.

I do not like it that the metro line is going through the GB Road divider. They will undo the divider and the light poles until the flyovers and then take a turn at flyovers on the same road and then come back to the divider. More pain to execute for them and for us.

They should have chosen a different path. Perhaps via some other road internally and should have skipped being on the GB Road.

Originally Posted by ruzbehxyz

Metro line 4 from Wadala to Kasarwadavli will go from Thane.

Source: https://mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/metro-line-4

The Thane Metro line is not expected to go to Thane Railway Station. Even the link has a route map that doesn't go through there.

[RedHerring]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Can anyone confirm or rebut my suspicion that Mumbai motorists are more law-abiding and kind to their fellow motorists/pedestrians, compared to Chennai? This impression is based on what little I've seen while visiting Mumbai.
Your thoughts?

I completely agree. Having moved back to chennai after a long time in Mumbai, my top peeves with Chennai traffic which I feel are much better in Mumbai:

1. Presence of two wheelers: Mumbai has much lesser number of two wheelers as compared to Chennai. This leads to a far better driving experience as you dont have bikes veering in and out of traffic all the time.
2. Lane discipline: I guess this is much better on Mumbai roads, especially the larger roads like Western Expressway/ Eastern Expressway etc. However some roads like LBS in Kurla or Bhandup are pretty much like Chennai.
3. Right Turns: In Chennai, there is no difference between turning left and right. Very few people in Chennai understand that you need to turn a wider arc when turning right as opposed to left.
4. Chennai has a number of spots where merging traffic coming from left has to go right and vice-versa. (e.g., The tri-junction near Loyola). These type of junctions are prone to mishaps.
5. Traffic lights: Maybe its because of the challan system, but most people in Mumbai tend to stop when the traffic lights are red. In chennai, people dont give a damn about the traffic lights, even when the cops are standing at the signal. Not to forget the creation of another line of vehicles on the other side of the divider!

[Lij]

Read in the newspapers that the toll at Mulund (LBS and EEH) and Airoli is suspended till end of Ganeshotsav (Sep 23).

Link to the news article -

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/65479268.cms


Question to regular users -

In usual case if I travel towards Godbunder from Airoli, I'll be using both the Airoli as well as Mulund EEH toll, do I need to pay at both places or paying at only one is enough since the second toll comes up within 3 kms.

[AkMar]

Originally Posted by Lij

Question to regular users -

In usual case if I travel towards Godbunder from Airoli, I'll be using both the Airoli as well as Mulund EEH toll, do I need to pay at both places or paying at only one is enough since the second toll comes up within 3 kms.

Yes, you need to pay at both places.

[avdhesh15]

The situation in Navi Mumbai has gone from bad (last month) to pathetic (this week). There are 8-10 potholes in the middle of the highway which cause jams of kilometers together. It's unbelievable that the authorities are so insensitive that it repeats every single year!

From Mumbai to Panvel:
After Vashi toll, outside Maruti showroom below flyover, DY Patil flyover, Kharghar

From Panvel to Mumbai:
Outside NEXA Kharghar, before Belapur flyover, opposite Maruti showroom before bridge, Wockhardt hospital, before the toll

Yesterday, it took me 4 hours from Panvel to Andheri Lokhandwala. Started at 11am and reached at 3pm.

Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by Lij

In usual case if I travel towards Godbunder from Airoli, I'll be using both the Airoli as well as Mulund EEH toll, do I need to pay at both places or paying at only one is enough since the second toll comes up within 3 kms.

I think till Sept 23 you wont need to pay toll at either Mulund or Airoli tolls. Post Sept 23 if you pay at one toll then you will be exempted from paying toll at the next toll both provided you have the receipt with you.

I am very doubtful that the Mumbra bypass will be ready by Sept 23 considering the weather conditions and the Ganesh festival when most of the workers involved in road repairs themselves would be unavailable. This is going to be tricky for the ruling parties who are chest thumping with the recent directives of toll exemption as it would be a major embarrassment if the Mumbra bypass doesn't become operational by end of Ganesh festival.

That brings a question - what about the refund for the monthly toll payers who had already paid for the month of August upfront either online or at the toll office. Or would the balance days be carried forward to September month in which case no toll would be need to be paid for the monthly toll pass holders. The latter would be preferred mostly. I have already tweeted the situation but I am not hopeful of getting any response.