MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has approved share auto-taxi stands outside 28 Metro stations in the suburbs to provide seamless last mile connectivity to passengers, a senior transport official announced on Sunday. The stands are being set up on a six-month pilot project on an experimental basis as there are possibilities of congestion and traffic snarls in some of the areas.
“We will check the feasibility of the share auto and share taxi stands outside Metro stations and will decide to keep it permanent if it runs successfully for six months without causing any major traffic snarls or congestion,” the official said.
More than 40 share auto and taxi routes are likely to come up in a few weeks, with each Metro station having minimum one and maximum three feeder routes. The routes will connect stations to nearest commercial hubs or thickly populated housing colonies. While eight stations on Metro line 1 (Versova to Ghatkopar) and 2A (Andheri West to Dahisar) will have the stands in the jurisdiction of Andheri RTO, 20 other stations on Metro lines 2A (Andheri West to Dahisar) and 7 (Gundavali to Dahisar) will have the auto and taxi stands monitored by the Borivli RTO. The stands will come outside Metro stations including Versova, DN Nagar, Andheri, Chakala, Goregaon, Aarey, Dindoshi, Akurli, Poisar, Magathane, Kandivali, Dahanukarwadi, Ovaripada, Dahisar East, Anand Nagar, Kandarpada, Malad (W), Rashtriya Udyan, Devipada, Mandpeshwar, Eksar, Borivli and Shimpoli.
The MMRTA order stated, “Stand boards with fares and destinations should be displayed in bold letters prominently for commuters arriving or leaving Metro station.” The order directs RTOs to coordinate with BEST authorities and ensure there is space for a bus stand so that commuters can also get an affordable bus journey from station. “We welcome the decision and will ensure there is discipline at all auto stands and the drivers maintain queues,” said Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien.
“We will check the feasibility of the share auto and share taxi stands outside Metro stations and will decide to keep it permanent if it runs successfully for six months without causing any major traffic snarls or congestion,” the official said.
More than 40 share auto and taxi routes are likely to come up in a few weeks, with each Metro station having minimum one and maximum three feeder routes. The routes will connect stations to nearest commercial hubs or thickly populated housing colonies. While eight stations on Metro line 1 (Versova to Ghatkopar) and 2A (Andheri West to Dahisar) will have the stands in the jurisdiction of Andheri RTO, 20 other stations on Metro lines 2A (Andheri West to Dahisar) and 7 (Gundavali to Dahisar) will have the auto and taxi stands monitored by the Borivli RTO. The stands will come outside Metro stations including Versova, DN Nagar, Andheri, Chakala, Goregaon, Aarey, Dindoshi, Akurli, Poisar, Magathane, Kandivali, Dahanukarwadi, Ovaripada, Dahisar East, Anand Nagar, Kandarpada, Malad (W), Rashtriya Udyan, Devipada, Mandpeshwar, Eksar, Borivli and Shimpoli.
The MMRTA order stated, “Stand boards with fares and destinations should be displayed in bold letters prominently for commuters arriving or leaving Metro station.” The order directs RTOs to coordinate with BEST authorities and ensure there is space for a bus stand so that commuters can also get an affordable bus journey from station. “We welcome the decision and will ensure there is discipline at all auto stands and the drivers maintain queues,” said Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien.
