| Mr. Ashley Fernandes Research Scholar Dept. of Geography University of Mumbai Mumbai (Maharashtra) India | Prof. Dr. Moushumi Datta Principal Nagindas Khandwala Mumbai (Maharashtra) India |
Abstract
Mumbai, the financial capital of India, experiences severe traffic congestion due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing vehicular movement. This congestion has led to serious environmental problems such as air pollution and noise pollution, which directly affect individuals working near major roads, especially shopkeepers and hawkers. The present study aims to analyze the health problems experienced by shopkeepers and hawkers due to traffic congestion in the R/S ward of Greater Mumbai, covering areas such as Kandivali, Dahanukar Wadi, Charkop Sector 1 and 2, and Akurli.
The study is based on primary data collected through a structured questionnaire from shopkeepers and hawkers using random sampling technique. Secondary data were collected from various research papers, reports, and articles. Descriptive and analytical methods were adopted, and tools such as IBM SPSS and QGIS were used for data analysis and mapping.
The findings reveal that a significant proportion (86.7%) of respondents suffer from health issues such as respiratory problems, headaches, sensory organ irritation, infections, and hearing loss due to traffic-related air and noise pollution. The hypothesis testing confirms that the majority of shopkeepers and hawkers are adversely affected by traffic pollution. The study also highlights issues of harassment by municipal authorities, particularly among informal shop operators.
The study concludes that traffic congestion in urban areas has serious implications for both physical and mental health of workers located near busy roads. It emphasizes the need for better traffic management, promotion of electric vehicles, enforcement of no-honking zones, development of green buffers,
and protection of hawkers’ rights through policy intervention.