India, Aug. 27 -- After spending Rs.1,104 crore to build it, the arterial Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) was supposed to provide seamless, signal-free vehicular movement between the eastern and western suburbs. The reality, however, is quite contradictory.

Days after the inauguration of the much hyped cable-stayed bridge extension of the SCLR onto the Western Express Highway (WEH), there are as many as half a dozen choke points (see graphic) along the entire 6.45-km corridor.

The latest choke point is at the landing point of the cable-stayed bridge on the WEH in Santacruz, where traffic from three roads converges-the new bridge, the WEH, and its service road.

Officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRD...