Traffic restraint plan was first proposed 9 yrs ago

The traffic restraint scheme, first mooted by a committee headed by former transport commissioner V M Lal, has been in cold storage for nine years.

The traffic restraint scheme, first mooted by a committee headed by former transport commissioner V M Lal, has been in cold storage for nine years.

HT Image

The high court-appointed panel was in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by Dr Sandeep Rane, convener of Smoke Affected Residents Forum, a non-governmental organisation.

The panel had submitted 100 recommendations, of which over 90 per cent has been implemented, Lal claimed.

Some of the recommendations like conversion of taxis and rickshaws into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), starting air-conditioned buses and taking steps to reduce air pollution, have been implemented.

However, restricting private vehicles from plying in the city on certain days of the week based on their plate numbers and imposition of congestion tax were put in backburner.

“The whole issue needs a holistic approach,” said Lal.

“The thrust of the whole programme is to strengthen the public transport and we have seen people ready to give up their private vehicles if provided with the comfortable travel.”

Lal added that one bus could easily cancel out 32 private vehicles, which in turn will ensure less traffic jams and consequently faster traffic.