As predicted, the need to pay a toll brought about a smooth drive on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Monday. Jams had been endless over the last week, with the ride toll-free.

Monday’s ride was, however, not quite as smooth on roads connecting to the link. This reporter took a cab from Bandra station at 8:53 am and after battling the usual chaos till Lucky Restaurant, reached the sea link toll booth at 9:05 am. The cab crossed over to Worli within four minutes, before the difficulties began.

After leaving the link, vehicles were directed to the junction of the old Passport Office, from where they turned to the Worli sea face route towards Atria Mall and then to Haji Ali, reaching the junction at 9:25 am. “After the vehicles pass Haji Ali, Peddar Road is narrower and this causes jams,” said Zameer Khan, who drove the cab. The Peddar Road journey finally ended near Babulnath Temple chowk at 9.41 am.

The Mahim Causeway journey from 10:20 am saw traffic get stuck at Worli Naka signal and crawl till Haji Ali via Atria Mall. Traffic from the sea link merged with that from the Causeway. The cab reached Haji Ali junction at 11.11 am and was stuck at the signal for four minutes. The narrow Peddar Road again proved troublesome and it took seven minutes from the junction to the end.

Shagun Sengupta, a copywriter with an ad agency, said, “The journey was an absolute breeze, four minutes from Bandra to Worli. However, some of my friends from Worli said traffic there is denser.”

... contd.