Daily loss of Rs.1.79 lakh, fare may increase by Rs 4
In a short sighted approach and to cover up the lapses and poor planning of the MMRDA, the BMC and the Traffic police had closed down a vital right turn at the Kurla end of the SCLR. This has now resulted in a daily loss of Rs 1.79 lakh due to excess expenses for the BEST, which is bearing the brunt of the fiasco being committed by all the three agencies.
This has now been revealed in a reply by the BEST to RTI activist Anil Galgali, who also said that the BEST is now contemplating an increase in its fare by Rs 4 to recover the loss.Galgali had sought information from the BEST Undertaking regarding the losses being incurred due to the diversion being forced to be undertaken due to the closure of the right turn towards the Kurla (West).
In his reply, Abhay Shelar, Assistant Depot Manger, informed that the closure of the right turn from the SCLR to Kurla Station has effected the distance and timings of 18 of its regular routes. A total of 1411 trips are undertaken on these 18 routes from this route resulting a extra distance travel of 1834.3 km as the diversion has led to increase of distance by 1.3 km (1411 x 1.3 = 1834.3 km). The Undertaking incurs a cost of Rs 97.72 per km, resulting in a total loss of Rs 1,79,248 on a daily basis (97.72x1834.3 = 1,79,248).
“The closure of the right turn towards the Kurla station has effected bus route nos - 37, 192, 183, 309, 310, 313 Ltd extra, 318, 320, 325, 326, 330, 332, 349, 365, 446 and 15. It has now proposed to the administration for approval to increase the bus fares by Rs 4 each from 121 stops on the routes of the buses playing on the route. I was also informed that the MMRDA, BMC and the Traffic department did not deem it fit to seek its opinion on the closure of the turn, also no suggestions or chance for raising objections was provided to BEST.”
Galgali, also sought information from the MMRDA about the closure of the right turn. In its reply the MMRDA informed that the SCLR was handed over to the BMC on May 2, 2015, hence the information sought, be taken from the BMC. MMRDA also gave a copy of the letter from Traffic department dated May 16, 2015, in which it has mentioned that, on the instructions of the BMC, the traffic dept closed the right turn by installing Cove stones on May 6, 2015, it further mentions that due instructions from the Traffic Officer L Ward, Prataprao Dighavkar and the Additonal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), the dividers were installed to ensure the closure of the right turn.
It further claims that the steps were taken to ensure smooth and faster traffic movement on the SCLR and the same is very essential. Kurla police in a report sent to BMC, MMRDA and traffic police on June 15 clearly claimed that removal the speed breaker caused the death of women who was hit by unknown vehicle at Hanuman Mandir on June 12 while crossing the road. Kurla police urged to open a right turn towards Kurla Station to maintain the law and order situation in this area.
Galgali said, “The action taken by the BMC and the Traffic department is illegal as no notifications were issued for the same as no proper procedures were followed. This has also resulted in the loss of life of a woman, who met with the accident due to removal of the speed breaker after the closure. The said closure was done without application of mind by the authorities with a short sighted approached and has caused immense inconvenience to the local commuters also leading to loss of lives and daily losses for the BEST.
In a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Civic chief Ajoy Mehta and the Police chief Rakesh Maria, I have demanded that the losses of the BEST be recovered from decision making Additonal Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) and other responsible officers or the BMC and the Police department compensate the losses of the BEST. The manner in which the road closure was executed without issuing any notification exhibits a sense of bravado in the said officers, Why this bravado is not exhibited by the same officers in clearing the encroachments and illegal parkings on the CST Road and SG Barve Marg?”