The Rs 200-crore Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension, built to improve east-west connectivity in Mumbai, appears to have failed in its purpose, with traffic congestion now reported at the point where the connector meets the Western Express Highway (WEH). During peak evening hours, motorists, including this reporter during a test drive, found themselves stuck in long jams, raising concerns that the project has created a fresh bottleneck instead of easing traffic.
Activists and Experts Call SCLR Connector a Planning Failure
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has faced sharp criticism from commuters and experts, with many calling the connector a case of improper planning. Concerns were flagged earlier in a March 26 report predicting the northbound landing on WEH would choke traffic. Architect and academician Jagdeep Desai explained that smooth flow requires uniform road width and equal lane distribution, but the connector merges and diverges at multiple points, creating a cascading effect worsened by random barricades. He added that despite earlier detailed studies and public suggestions to streamline traffic, little action was taken, and only holistic changes can provide meaningful solutions.
Activist Zoru Bhathena was more critical, stating that the new connector merely transports vehicles from one jam to another. He described it as an example of poor planning that channels thousands of vehicles into an already stressed bottleneck, urging authorities to restrict and streamline flow rather than exacerbate it. In his view, shutting down the connector could actually ease overall traffic. Transport expert Jitendra Gupta echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the city keeps building new flyovers without addressing the root causes—rapidly rising vehicle numbers and poor traffic forecasting. According to him, MMRDA has consistently failed to assess actual traffic flow and road capacity by the time projects are completed. He also pointed out the lack of planning to expand road width, calling the situation “pathetic.”
Summary:
The Rs 200-crore Santacruz-Chembur Link Road extension has drawn criticism for worsening traffic at the Western Express Highway. Experts blame poor planning, unequal road widths, and failure to assess traffic flow. Activists argue the connector shifts vehicles from one jam to another, while rising vehicle numbers intensify congestion across Mumbai.
