A result of failed public transportation system and poor infrastructure, say experts
Mumbai : Instead of the comfort of cars, Mumbaikars are opting for two-wheelers to beat the ever growing vehicular traffic in the city. This is evident as 14,31,029 two-wheelers were registered across Mumbai from April 2014 to March 2015 as compared to 13,29,461 in the previous financial year (2013-14).
Transport experts feel the shift in the pattern – initially being a four-wheeler city to now heading towards two-wheeler city – is a result of failed public transportation system and poor infrastructure.
Motorcycles topped the list of two wheelers registered in the city. Across all the three RTOs a total of 9,21,363 motorcycles were registered from April 2014 to March 2015 as compared to 8,64,061 in the previous financial year (2013-14).
On the other hand, the registration of four-wheelers which include cars and jeeps increased to 8,01,815 in 2014-15 from 7,52,471 in 2013-14.
Transport activists look at the increase in the registration of two-wheelers as an outcome of lack of infrastructure in the city and failed services of BEST. Transport expert AV Shenoy said, “The drop in the BEST passengers is one of the contributing factors in the increase of registration of two-wheelers. The BEST itself is struggling with traffic issues, which is the very reason that the government needs to come up with dedicated lanes for BEST to get the traffic situation under control.”
Chairman of Western Automobile Association, Nitin Dossa, said, “The public transportation of the city is in such a bad shape that it is compelling people to have a vehicle of their own. These figures should raise an alarm in the ears of the government who has done absolutely nothing when it comes to public transportation.”
Experts also feel that the increase in two-wheeler registration has created issues in traffic discipline.
Iram Siddique
