With key south Mumbai bridges either shut for repairs or partially open, and the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) set to open on December 25, citizens and activists fear that there be chaos on existing roads as there will be a huge influx of vehicles from the MTHL onto the city’s internal roads. The BMC, however, has said that the Delisle Road bridge at Lower Parel will be opened this week and other city bridges are being worked upon. 

According to activist Kamlakar Shenoy, once the new trans-harbour link from Sewri to Ulwe/Chirle opens by December 25, there will be a daily influx of 70,000 vehicles towards Mumbai, with 80 per cent of the traffic projected to converge on P D'Mello Road and Sardar Vallabhai Patel Road which connects the Eastern Freeway to Chowpatty. “A number of bridges in south Mumbai are either shut or open partially as they are new or under repairs. It will be a cause for worry,” he said.