Two vital roads in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) will be closed to accommodate the construction of an underground railway station for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National High-Speed Rail Corporation bullet train project. The closures will remain in effect until June 30, 2024. The affected routes include the stretch from the diamond bourse junction to JSW Centre and from Platina building junction to Motilal Nehru Nagar near Trade Centre.
Traffic police have outlined alternative routes to mitigate congestion. For instance, vehicles heading from Kurla’s Razzak junction to the diamond bourse junction and JSW office toward Kherwadi can now make a right turn from Asian Heart Hospital. Those using the road from Kherwadi to Asian Heart Hospital to reach the JSW office can opt for a left turn at Nabard junction to access BKC. To bypass the route from Razzak junction to the trade centre, vehicles can take a left turn at MTNL junction. In addition to the road closures, Pravin Padwal, the joint commissioner of police (traffic), cited several factors contributing to the current traffic snarls in BKC. Reduced carriageway width due to ongoing Metro works and the increasing role of BKC as a connector between eastern and western suburbs have compounded traffic woes.
Mihir Vora, a Chief Investment Officer at a financial institution, expressed frustration with the worsening traffic conditions in BKC, noting congestion during peak hours and a lack of proper parking facilities.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated a comprehensive transportation plan for BKC.