Tourist bus operators withdraw petition in court

Mumbai: A group of tourist bus operators on Friday withdrew their petition, challenging the Mumbai traffic police’s decision to not allow tourist buses to halt at Palton Road and Crawford Market area, on the ground that they would file a fresh petition challenging a new notification issued on September 12, which restricts all heavy vehicles from entering Mumbai city during day time. According to the new notification, heavy vehicles will be allowed to enter and ply in the city only between 7am and 11am and then from 5pm to 10pm.

The notification issued by Dr Saurabh Tripathi DCP (Traffic) on September 12, 2017 read, “Due to a steep increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads in Greater Mumbai and ongoing works of mega projects, plying of heavy vehicles occupying large road space is causing severe obstructions to traffic flow. This is causing great danger and inconvenience to the general public.”

It further said that to prevent danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public and for smooth movement of traffic and better traffic management in greater Mumbai, all heavy vehicles and private buses transporting passengers entering and leaving Mumbai are restricted to enter and ply on all types of road in Mumbai city from 7am to 11am and 5pm to 10pm.

Government pleader Rupali Shinde said that operator of tourist buses had filed the petition claiming traffic police not allowing them to halt their buses for allowing the passengers to board the vehicle.