Surge of traffic on Mumbai roads on first day of 'Mission Begin Again'

MUMBAI: A surge of vehicular traffic on the roads marked the first day of 'Mission Begin Again' on Monday. The traffic police said they had been anticipating the surge and were prepared to carry more checks.
"Every time the lockdown is extended, there is a fresh surge of vehicles on the roads on the first day," said an officer. There was congestion on the Western and Eastern Express Highways, Sion-Panvel Road, Vashi Toll naka and Sion vegetable market. "Some motorists are genuinely confused about guidelines for the new lockdown. But there are many who set out for no urgent reason and we are taking action against them. There are also some who are out for emergencies but have not got an e-pass from the Mumbai Police yet," the officer said.
The police are expecting another fresh surge of vehicles on June 3 as outdoor physical activities will be permitted that day onward. "We were not calling traffic wardens to assist us with traffic management since the lockdown so far. But from Monday, we have started calling them. Deployment of traffic personnel is also being realigned," said DCP (traffic-south) Somnath Gharge. Nakabandi points have been stepped up by the traffic police. Over 500 motorcyclists were booked for riding without helmet and 31 vehicles impounded for lockdown violations in south Mumbai alone on Monday.
"There was more than normal traffic witnessed in all parts of the city on Monday. We had already made prior traffic police deployment at busy junctions to ensure smooth vehicular movement. While there was no major traffic snarls reported, there was a delay of at least 10 minutes on Sion-Panvel Highway, near Vashi Toll Naka and on the Eastern Express Highway," said an officer.