For thousands of motorists travelling between Mahim, Shivaji Park and Bandra, one stretch of road has become synonymous with daily delays. Every afternoon, the area surrounding Bombay Scottish School on Cadell Road (Veer Savarkar Marg) witnesses heavy traffic congestion as school buses and private vehicles line up for student dispersal.
Regular commuters say that if you're heading towards Bandra
after around 12 noon, particularly during school closing hours, you're
almost certain to encounter slow-moving traffic. What would normally be a short
journey often stretches by 15 to 20 minutes, with vehicles crawling
through the bottleneck.
Why Does Traffic Build Up Every Afternoon?
The congestion primarily begins when dozens of school buses
arrive to pick up students. Since many buses wait outside the school premises,
they occupy a significant portion of the carriageway, reducing available road
space for moving traffic.
At the same time, many parents arrive in private vehicles,
including SUVs and luxury cars, to collect their children. Several commuters
allege that double parking and vehicles waiting on the roadside further narrow
the road, creating an even bigger choke point.
The result is a long queue of vehicles extending towards
both Shivaji Park and Mahim, affecting office-goers, local residents, delivery
vehicles and public transport alike.
A Problem That Has Existed for Years
Residents and frequent travellers say this isn't a new
issue. According to locals, afternoon congestion around Bombay Scottish School
has persisted for several years, becoming a predictable part of the daily
commute.
Although traffic police personnel are often present during
school dispersal, many commuters believe that the sheer volume of buses and
private vehicles makes traffic management extremely challenging.
Some motorists say they now deliberately avoid Cadell Road
during these hours, choosing longer alternative routes just to escape the
congestion.
Impact on Daily Commuters
For commuters travelling from Mahim towards Bandra via Veer
Savarkar Marg, the delay has become part of their daily routine. Apart from
increasing travel time, the congestion also leads to higher fuel consumption,
unnecessary idling and frustration for motorists trying to cross the area.
With traffic volumes in Mumbai continuing to grow, many
residents believe that addressing recurring bottlenecks like this could
significantly improve everyday commuting experiences.
Whether through better planning, improved coordination or
stricter enforcement, many commuters hope that a lasting solution can finally
be found for one of Shivaji Park's most talked-about traffic hotspots.
