JULY 11: Angry rioters blocked traffic and damaged vehicles on the Eastern Express Highway today leading to jams all over the 14-km stretch from Ghatkopar depot junction to Thane check-post. While the trouble on the highway began early in the morning, Republican Party of India activists blocked trains on the Harbour line in the afternoon adding to the chaos.

The first train was blocked at Chembur and Kurla around 12.15 and 6 pm respectively. By this time, rioters had already set a private luxury bus afire near Mata Ramabai Nagar and had damaged several BEST and private vehicles, bringing traffic on the troubled stretch of the highway and some other roads to a standstill.

BEST buses stopped plying in Kurla and Ghatkopar as news on attack on buses spread. Autos and taxis too refused to take passengers anywhere near the troubled spots.

BEST drivers were injured in stone-pelting. One of them has been admitted to the Rajawadi municipal hospital at Ghatkopar. Rest of them were given first-aid at the hospital and discharged. Three women passengers also received minor injuries and were given first-aid at the Rajawadi hospital.Officials at the BEST control informed that 35 buses were damaged in the rioting. But the damage was not much, as only the window panes were broken. The extent of the loss has not been estimated as yet.

Most of the buses were damaged at the triangular junction of Eastern Express Highway, Jijamata Bhosale Marg and the Thakkar Bappa Colony. Buses plying at Shivaji Nagar were also damaged.

The undertaking suspended its service later from 4 pm to 6.20 pm between Sion and Ghatkopar and from Kurla station on the east and west. The services were also diverted for some time in the afternoon at Kurla, said a senior official.

The violence also had its impact on the operations of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Only a small number of buses rolled out of the Nehru Nagar and other depots, leaving outstation passengers stranded at the ST stands in Nehru Nagar, Dadar (Asiad) and Dadar (west).

Outstation buses and cargo trucks entering Mumbai by the Chembur Chheda Nagar road had to take a long detour through the Bhiwandi bypass till Thane check-post and then use the overcrowded LBS Marg to reach to their destinations within the city. Traffic on the highway resumed only at 2.10 pm when the police allowed vehicles to make their way through a thick cloud of tear-gas.

Chaotic scenes prevailed on the overcrowded LBS marg which is till being concretised. Cramped with encroachments on either sides, the road witnessed an unusual increase in traffic density when heavy vehicles and others used it to enter into the city.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.