September 13, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prepared a draft policy aimed at improving the management of Mumbai’s Western and Eastern Express Highways, two of the city’s busiest arterial routes. The proposal seeks to ease traffic congestion, establish uniform maintenance standards, and regulate roadside advertising.
Under the plan, underpasses would be constructed at key traffic junctions, while access to certain stretches of the highways would be restricted to ensure smoother vehicle movement. The draft also recommends centralising the upkeep of medians, which until now has been handled by multiple agencies, often leading to inconsistent maintenance.
The policy further outlines a coordinated schedule for road repairs to prevent overlapping work, uniform maintenance practices across the length of both highways, stricter access control at busy intersections, and clearer rules for advertising hoardings along the routes. The BMC believes these measures will reduce delays, bring greater order to highway management, and provide a safer and more efficient commuting experience for motorists.
The Western and Eastern Express Highways serve as crucial links between the suburbs and central Mumbai. However, they have long struggled with chronic traffic jams, patchy maintenance, and poorly regulated billboards. Although the civic body has previously attempted to address these issues through periodic repairs and partial regulation of advertisements, the lack of a unified approach—due to the involvement of multiple agencies—has continued to pose challenges.
The draft policy has now been submitted to the municipal commissioner for approval. Once cleared, it will serve as a single framework governing maintenance, traffic management, and advertisement regulations on these vital corridors. Officials believe that its implementation will not only enhance day-to-day commuting but also improve the overall organisation and appearance of Mumbai’s key highways.
Source: Prop Time News
