Mumbai authorities have imposed a temporary restriction on heavy vehicles using Dadar’s Tilak Bridge for three months, in a bid to decongest one of the city’s key east–west corridors. The curbs will remain in force from February 12 to May 12, 2026, as officials attempt to manage traffic pressure caused by ongoing infrastructure upgrades in central Mumbai.
According to traffic officials, reconstruction work on the Elphinstone Flyover and the Sion Road Over Bridge has diverted significant vehicular movement onto surrounding arterial routes, resulting in frequent bottlenecks. To streamline flow, the city’s traffic division has prohibited large vehicles—including tankers, concrete mixers, trailers and dump trucks—from plying on Tilak Bridge between 7 am and 11 pm daily.
The restriction aims to prioritise passenger vehicles and public transport while major construction projects continue nearby. Senior officials said the move is part of a broader strategy to reduce congestion at critical junctions where east–west traffic intersects in densely populated areas.
Alternative routes have been mapped out for heavy vehicles. Traffic originating from Mulund, Mankhurd and Navi Mumbai has been advised to avoid Tilak Bridge and instead use diversions via Sion Hospital Junction, Sulochana Shetty Marg, Kumbharwada Junction, Kataria Marg and Veer Savarkar Road towards Shivaji Park and Siddhivinayak. Northbound vehicles will be redirected through Maheshwari Circle and Sion, while local connectors from Sena Bhavan and L.J. Road will move via Shobha Hotel and Kumbharwada.
Urban mobility experts note that such temporary regulations are increasingly necessary as multiple transport projects overlap in Mumbai’s dense urban core. The measure is expected to improve journey times for commuters and ensure smoother passage for essential services, including ambulances and deliveries.
Enforcement will be undertaken by the Matunga and Dadar Traffic Divisions under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Authorities said strict monitoring and penalties for violations will ensure compliance and prevent congestion from spilling into residential neighbourhoods.
Source: Urban Acres
