Bombay HC wants multiple steps to control traffic

The Bombay high court on Friday suggested a number of steps like under ground parking, strengthening of public transport system and need of short term and long term comprehensive parking policy to tackle traffic and parking issues in the city. The court observed that one single policy couldn’t work for a city like Mumbai.

The division bench of Justices Naresh H. Patil and Nitin W. Sambre was hearing a bunch of petitions on traffic and parking issues. In some of the countries parking charges have been increased so much that public avoid using private vehicles and they use public transport. The bench, however, also said, “But these countries have strengthened their public transport system so much that even well to do people also prefer using public transport. Do we have such kind of public transport system?” asked Justice Patil.

He also said, “Everyday on an average 10 people die using our local trains which could be the highest. Does so many people die using public transport anywhere in the world? Would a well-to-do person prefer using such kind of public transport?’

“You (government) have to study densely populated Asiatic countries which are facing similar problem and what policy they are adopting,” said the bench.

If you want to increase parking charges to the level that the public chooses to use public transport, then you must strengthen it first. “If our buses and locals are already overcrowded can we have a third organ of the public transport?” asked the judges.

According to the bench when there is a possibility of having an underground Metro, then why not underground parking as well.