Highway traffic movement at Dwarka junction to restart in a week’s time

Nashik: Vehicular movement on the Mumbai-Agra highway stretch passing through the busy Dwarka Junction is likely to resume within a week, bringing relief to commuters who have endured months of congestion since the crucial intersection was shut in Feb for grade separator construction.According to traffic officials, a section of the junction will be opened for two-way movement towards Mumbai and Dhule once ongoing slab work over the underpass reaches a usable stage.“If the construction goes as planned, a section of the junction could be thrown open for two-way vehicular traffic toward Mumbai and Dhule by next week, most likely Monday,” said inbspector Riyaz Shaikh, of the city traffic branch.The closure of one of the city’s busiest junctions had forced all non-flyover traffic, including state transport buses, to take lengthy detours, resulting in severe congestion on alternative routes throughout the day.Though the overall grade separator project will continue until Jan 2027, the partial reopening is expected to ease pressure on diversion corridors that have seen bumper-to-bumper traffic since Feb.Once fully completed, the grade separator will streamline movement by segregating local and highway traffic, allowing commuters traveling between Nashik Road and Shalimar-CBS to cross the junction without disrupting through traffic on the highway.For years, Dwarka junction has remained a major bottleneck, with authorities attempting multiple traffic management measures such as removing traffic islands and restricting heavy vehicles during peak hours.Commuters say the prolonged closure had increased travel time and costs, particularly for daily passengers.“Ever since the junction was closed, autorickshae drivers increased the fare for the added distance they have to cover. While the two-way highway traffic on the Mumbai and Dwarka side may not directly help commuters travelling between Nashik Road and Shalimar, we look for a permanent solution to the traffic issue at Dwarka. In the past, we have been stuck in Dwarka traffic for 15 to 20 minutes at a stretch,” said college student Bhakti Jadhav.Residents and motorists hope the long-pending project will finally offer a lasting solution to chronic congestion at the junction.