• Source:JND
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Mumbai Eastern Freeway Closed: Commuters heading back home to the western suburbs from offices in South Mumbai should avoid the Eastern Freeway on Friday, as it's been completely shut down due to the ongoing Maratha reservation protest. Instead, the best alternative route is via the Coastal Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which connects smoothly to the Western Express Highway (WEH). Though the route may be longer and traffic-heavy, it remains the most reliable option under the current circumstances.

The closure comes amid major disruptions across Mumbai, especially with several key roads cordoned off for the large-scale Maratha reservation march led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil. Areas like Nariman Point, Fort, and CSMT saw bumper-to-bumper traffic, leaving thousands of office-goers stuck on the road for hours. Many reported that commutes which usually take under an hour stretched to nearly four.

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Check Alternative Routes from South Mumbai to Western Suburbs

With the Eastern Freeway and V N Purav Road shut for the day, here are two recommended ways for motorists to navigate back home:

1. Coastal Road -> Bandra–Worli Sea Link -> Western Express Highway

Start from Marine Lines, using the open Phase 1 of the Coastal Road, which provides a seamless, signal-free drive up to Worli. From there, connect to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, then merge onto the Western Express Highway to continue northwards towards Santacruz, Andheri, Powai, and beyond.

2. Western Express Highway via Local Routes

If the Coastal Road is not an option, drivers can still make their way to the WEH through inner roads via Worli, Bandra, or Mahim, depending on the location. Though traffic may be heavy, especially near protest sites, this remains a dependable route for reaching western destinations.

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Major Traffic Gridlocks Reported Across Mumbai

Friday brought the city to a grinding halt, with traffic moving at a snail’s pace across multiple arterial roads. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, led by Manoj Jarange Patil, resulted in thousands of protesters heading toward Azad Maidan, effectively bringing South Mumbai’s traffic to a standstill.

Roads like the Eastern Freeway, Panvel-Sion Road, P D’Mello Road, Wallchand Hirachand Marg, Dr Dadabhai Nauroji Road, and Hajarimal Somani Road were all shut to regular vehicles. The only exception was for emergency services.

Even the Coastal Road, which otherwise provides a smooth ride, saw long snarls stretching from Priyadarshini Park (PDP) to Nariman Point, with commuters stuck for extended periods.