Mumbai, September 11: Mumbai Traffic Police have decided to ban all commercial vehicles from Dahisar to Kalanagar between 5 pm and 9 pm. This move will help reduce heavy traffic on Western Express Highway during peak hours. The main reason for traffic chaos on this stretch is the ongoing Metro construction. Travelling on this stretch usually takes around two and a half hours during peak time, which may get better with the Traffic Police move.

The ban on commercial vehicles will be implemented today (September 11) from Dahisar to Kalanagar on a trial basis for next 15 days. After the trial, the situation will be reviewed and the decision will be implemented on a permanent basis. The traffic department hopes that this move will reduce the travel time from two-and-a-half to two hours.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amitesh Kumar, as quoted by Mumbai Mirror, said, “There is acute congestion on the WEH especially for which we have been experimenting with various measures for decongestion. These light commercial vehicles also cause friction in the traffic movement because of their slow manoeuvering as they carry load. We will review the situation and if the results show a positive impact, then the ban will also be implemented on the south-bound arm during the morning peak hours.”

The ban will be implemented on all light commercial vehicles including mini tempos, mini trucks and other such vehicles. According to the traffic police, commercial vehicles aggregate about 15 per cent of vehicles on the highway and about 800 to 1,000 of them use the Western Express Highway every hour.

The traffic police have also identified some major traffic causing zones on WEH. Dahisar toll naka is one of them and the traffic police have asked the authorities to relieve the toll during heavy congestion. The Times of India bridge in Kandivali is the other zone due to ongoing Metro construction.

The traffic police are also implementing a strict no-parking rule on entire Western Express Highway. To give priority to the rush hour traffic the timing at traffic signals has also been fine-tuned.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2018 03:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).