Few auto stands, lots of chaos

To check out the regional transport office’s claim that there are 703 auto stands in the suburbs, HT on Monday checked the crowded spots between Goregaon (east) and Bandra (west).

To check out the regional transport office’s claim that there are 703 auto stands in the suburbs, HT on Monday checked the crowded spots between Goregaon (east) and Bandra (west).

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After inspecting two auto stands in Goregaon (east), this reporter took the Western Express Highway and went to Andheri (east), spotting no stands along the way.

On Andheri-Kurla Road, over which the first Metro line is being constructed, commuters said there are no auto stands. Poonam Dhanuka, a 25-year-old homemaker from the nearby JB Nagar, said: “There used to be an auto stand at the start of Andheri-Kurla Road, but the Metro work has uprooted it. Now this road is like being in a lawless land.”

From the highway, this reporter went up to Saki Naka, but there was not a single stand. The reporter then turned back and headed to Andheri station (west), where the situation is not any better.

Moving to Vile Parle along SV Road, HT found a parking stand for autos sponsored by Mahanagar Gas at Irla market junction, but there was no auto at the stand. At Santacruz station (west), again, there was no stand. Harshna Vashishthth, a 19-year-old student from the nearby Raheja college, said: “There is no auto stand, but a cluster of autos are parked outside. When I ask them to go to my college, which is within the minimum distance, one in seven to eight drivers agree.”

From there to the Lucky hotel junction in Bandra (west), there were many clusters of illegally parked autos, but not stands were visible.