Traffic chaos persists, but mess less on NH-8

SURAT/BHARUCH: The slight improvement in the traffic mess on Sardar Bridge near Bharuch on Friday was hardly any succor for commuters and transporters as vehicles remained stranded or moved at a snail's pace.
The jam caused due to a minor accident has blocked the crucial Ahmedabad-Mumbai road link since Wednesday afternoon.Such was the scare of being stuck that former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam abruptly cut short his interaction with industrialists in Ankleshwar fearing that he would miss his flight from Vadodara.Fortunately, he could get through the mess.
By Friday evening, massive queues stretching for nearly 6 km on both sides of the Golden Bridge and Sardar Bridge were seen. Commuters are taking nearly two-and-a-half hours to cross Bharuch district limits, which normally takes just 25-30 minutes.As many as 33,000 trucks were stranded in the jam on Thursday but the situation eased a bit and some could cross the bridge.
However, a large number of commuters continued to suffer due to the snarl. Jay Patel, working in an engineering unit in Ankleshwar GIDC, said, "I have to rush to my home in Palej as my father is sick. I am not sure when I would reach."Trupti Joshi, a housewife from Ankleshwar, said, "I had to attend a funeral in Vadodara at 10am. But I could reach only by 2.30."