Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Manifesto to overhaul Mumbai’s transport system

City transport forums and activists have drawn up a transport manifesto for Mumbai in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Some key proposals include segregation of the Mumbai railway network easing public transport and having a unified transport body apart from numerous other suggestions to improve BEST and railway operationsldquoAs I have proposed for a long time there is a need to make transport open to stage carriage services to regulated private operators and entry to public buses only after scanning tickets to reduce ticketless passengersrdquo said Jagdeep Desai architect academician founder trustee and chairperson of the Forum for Improving Quality of Life in MumbaiDesai said Mumbai should have a single UAEtype road transport authority RTA that will have a common ticketing process for public taxis buses Metro rail and suburban train tickets for cashless travelldquoThe suburban railways should look at a universal timetable which is also called cyclical timetable for Mumbai which will include a complete overhaul with a clockwise traffic pattern for all stations on the central harbour and western routesrdquo he saidDesai added that the railways should also introduce Metro stationtype turnstile entry to stations to reduce congestion This will also cut down the number of unauthorised persons at stations platforms and trains and curb illegal hawkers and ticketless travellersHe said the oldtype singlepoint main entry to stations is also an obsolete idea with fifteen coach local trains and 24car outstation trains ldquoIt leads to extreme crowding The entryexit points should be spread outrdquo he addedAnother think tank the Mumbai Vikas Samiti has stressed the need of having a technocrat at the helm of BEST to understand affairs and a separate corporation for Mumbai railways also having a prepaid autorickshaw service available outside stationsldquoThe BEST should be allowed to raise finances from the market through bonds have dedicated bus lanes on arterial routes and a decisionmaking panel with external expertsrdquo A V Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti saidldquoAs far as the suburban railway is concerned it should be a separate corporation like Konkan Railway with 5050 participation from the Centre and state and no dictates from the Railway Boardrdquo Shenoy addedPoints put forth by lsquoImproving Quality of Life in Mumbairsquo Make public transport open to stage carriage services by regulated private operators Adopt universal timetablecyclical timetable for Mumbai suburban network Introduce Metro stationtype turnstile entry at railway stations to reduce congestioncurb ticketless travel Do away with singlepoint main station entry system Give entry to public buses only after scanning ticket to reduce ticketless travel Introduce singular road transport authority for taxis buses Metro rail and suburban train tickets to enable cashless travelPoints put forth by lsquoMumbai Vikas Samitirsquo BEST general manager should be a technocrat with 7year term BEST committee should be in line with BMC Act 1888 and have external experts BEST should be allowed to raise finances from market through bonds Dedicated public bus lanes on arterial routes Clear signage outside railwayMetro stations indicating bus routes available Separate corporation for Mumbai suburban railways with 5050 participation from centre and state Managing director of Mumbai suburban railway corporation to be a technocrat with 7year tenure Railways should spend more on increasing number of trains and routes rather than spending on superficial station improvement Have more highspeed trains 180 kmph rather than bullet trains which need separate infrastructure Have smaller trains 8 coaches or less with higher frequency and short routes to connect smaller cities Have prepaid autorickshaws outside every station connecting to more frequented places