September 18, 2025: A cement-concrete road constructed at a cost of Rs 23 crore on the Shanti Nagar–Dolphin stretch, intended to ease Ulhasnagar’s chronic traffic congestion, has ironically become a new bottleneck. More than half of the road is now occupied by transporters illegally parking heavy vehicles, leaving residents exasperated.
Locals report that the stretch is lined with warehouses, garages and businesses associated with chemical transportation. Heavy trucks belonging to these establishments are routinely parked along the road, obstructing traffic flow and defeating the purpose of the project. Despite repeated complaints, little improvement has been seen.
The road was developed using funds allocated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and is almost complete. Local resident Ravi Shetty recalled the earlier state of the road: “It was full of potholes and most of us avoided it. When it was being rebuilt with cement, we were delighted, thinking it would finally serve as an alternative route. But instead, half of it has become a lorry park, worsening traffic.”
Other residents echoed similar frustrations, urging the traffic police and Regional Transport Office (RTO) to take stronger measures. Daily commuters say rush-hour jams have worsened, forcing them to spend additional time navigating the clogged stretch. Many argue that the very benefits of the costly cement road are being lost to negligence and weak enforcement.
When questioned, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation’s Assistant Commissioner and Public Relations Officer, Ajay Sable, admitted the problem persists despite earlier action. “With the help of the traffic police, we had taken punitive measures and collected fines of around Rs 2 lakh. Yet the illegal parking continues. We will once again initiate strict action and clear the road,” he stated. Residents now await decisive steps to reclaim the much-needed roadway from misuse.
Source: Times Of India
