Hawkers continue to crowd BEST bus stops

After making tall claims that it will create more space by removing encroachments from the bus stops, no efforts have been made by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to clear the places off squatters.

After making tall claims that it will create more space by removing encroachments from the bus stops, no efforts have been made by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to clear the places off squatters.

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In a survey conducted from December 2012 to February 2013, BEST found that 250 out of 6,000 city bus stops were encroached upon by beggars or unauthorized people. The administration has not taken any action to evacuate them so far.

Hindustan Times visited several bus stops including the Mahim Fatak bus stop, opposite to Mahim station (W), the Dr. Antonio DaSilva School, Dadar (W), Mahim Church and Bombay Central near Maratha Mandir, and found them to be encroached either by hawkers or squatters, with little or no space left for commuters.

In the committee meeting held on Monday, members demanded that bus stops be cleaned. Transport experts and commuters are also of the same opinion.

"The bus stops have lost their purpose. They are more used as instrument to advertise than to facilitate commuters. The concept of the yellow box has disappeared, and as a result the drivers halt buses much ahead of the designated stop and force commuters to run forward to board the bus," said Ashok Datar, transport analyst.

Sanjay Ambole, chairman of the BEST committee said the eviction could wait until next month. "I will inspect bus stops from May 2 and then I will decide the course of action."

Virendra Bagul, the public relations officer for BEST said, "The issue was discussed in the committee meeting. Now it will go to the general manager (OP Gupta) for approval and then the officials concerned will be asked to take appropriate action. This process will need at least 10 days."