In Focus

Need To Pull BEST Out Of The Red

“As an alternative model to help subsidise BEST, private cars parked on roads should be charged according to the real estate rates of the area and the funds used for the purpose,” offers transport expert Vidyadhar Date

The vehicular pollution that wreaks havoc for Mumbai isn’t brought under control by the state government which has yet to bring private aggregator cabs under its city taxi norms. It’s only when that happens that private aggregator cabs would have to mandatorily use CNG as fuel to reduce pollution. The number of private aggregator cabs operating without CNG is phenomenal leading to a corresponding, unfettered surge in pollution levels too.

The number of private aggregator cabs operating without CNG in Mumbai is phenomenal

Incidentally, between April 2017 and January 2018, when the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) performed surprise checks of 14,788 taxis 4,328 of them were found faulty. The licences of 1,294 drivers and 1,024 vehicle licences were suspended and the state collected Rs 68.72 lakh in fines and recovered Rs 15.62 lakh worth of fines imposed by the courts.

Prior to that period, between 2013 and March 2017, on the basis of complains lodged by passengers, 5,719 show-cause notices were issued. In all, 4,203 vehicle licences and 4,431 drivers' licences were suspended and fines worth Rs 83.42 lakh were recovered.

Amidst all this chaos perpetrated by private vehicles and aggregator cabs, it’s the city’s lifeline, the trains, which plies 2,300 services every day transporting 7.5 million people daily and annually 2.2 billion passengers - a third of the world’s population and all without adding to the air pollution.

This report has been prepared for DraftCraft International’s flagship initiative The Public Space Project in conjunction with its pilot endeavours - The Right To Walk Project, The Gateway of India Project and The Elephanta Island Project to research, analyse and determine the rights of the common man, the pedestrian, the tourist and the rights of the masses availing public transportation in contrast to those privileged few owning private vehicles. The initiative examines laws and policies regarding transport, access to public spaces and privacy guaranteed to all by the State in context of the Right To Equality, Freedoms and the Right to Life.