Borivali’s Chikuwadi Turns into a Gridlock Maze: Roads Dug Up, Chaos Ensues

Chikuwadi, Borivali, Mumbai: In Chikuwadi, Borivli, simultaneous road excavations have thrown life into disarray for residents, motorists, and pedestrians. Major arteries like Link Road, Shimpoli Road, and Chikuwadi Road have been reduced to a chaotic maze, trapping key institutions like Phoenix Hospital and a local school. Residents now travel 5–6 km extra via Gorai to circumvent the mess.

The Shimpoli Telephone Exchange signal has emerged as the epicenter of the chaos, with three of its four adjoining roads under construction. Heavy traffic congestion during peak hours has made commuting unbearable. To complicate matters, a separate excavation site at the junction adds to the bottleneck.

Key Trouble Spots

• Link Road: Excavations on both northbound and southbound stretches leave minimal space for vehicles, creating heavy traffic.

• Kanti Park Road: Complete blockage on one side forces vehicles to use the opposing lane, causing frequent gridlocks, especially for BEST buses.

• Chikuwadi Road: Sections near Phoenix Hospital have been closed or dug up, causing severe disruptions for emergency vehicles.

• Shimpoli Road: Narrowed to a single lane, intensifying traffic near the Telephone Exchange signal.

Local resident Sandesh Gosavi shares, “What took 5 minutes earlier now takes 20–25 minutes to cover just 500 meters.” Similarly, teacher Bharti Dave explains her detour of 5.5 km, saying, “Development is welcome, but this lack of planning is disastrous.”

Pedestrians at Risk

During jams, bikers illegally use footpaths, endangering pedestrians. Prashik Kamble, a local, recounts a narrow escape for one pedestrian, saved just in time from a speeding biker.

Civic Response

Senior PI Lokre of the MHB Colony traffic division admits the simultaneous digging of roads is a problem. The traffic police are working on diversions, and letters have been sent to BEST for alternate bus routes. Civic activist Gopal Javeri suggests that project timelines, safety measures, and diversions should be clearly communicated on-site.

While development is necessary, locals demand better planning and coordination to prevent such widespread disruption.