The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeking its permission to trim tree branches above the 7-km-long dedicated bus
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeking its permission to trim tree branches above the 7-km-long dedicated bus lanes in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
The MMRDA claims due to the trees there are cases where double-decker and normal buses do not ply in the bus lanes and end up outside them.
The move has come after the authority was criticised by activists as the buses operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) were often seen running in the middle of the road in spite of having dedicated lanes.
“We have written a letter to the BMC and have requested it to allow us to trim trees on certain stretches where they are acting as an obstruction for the double decker buses plying between Bandra and Kurla which compels BEST bus drivers not to ply inside the dedicated bus lanes,” said a senior MMRDA official.
According to MMRDA officials, there have been problems related to enforcement of rules like that of auto drivers plying inside the dedicated lanes and also parking their vehicles inside the dedicated lanes. For this the MMRDA is in constant touch with the traffic police officials to fine errant motorists plying and parking in the bus lanes.
The MMRDA has also deployed traffic wardens to guard the dedicated bus lanes to ensure no vehicles apart from buses enter these lanes.
“At times private vehicles do not listen to the traffic warden and ultimately any implementation is not allowed if the general public does not cooperate with the authorities,” the MMRDA official added.
The authority is also going to send a detailed plan on the stretches where the trimming of trees is required once the civic body gives the latter an in principle approval for the same. The dedicated bus lanes are marked partly on the last lane and the shoulder area of the road towards the kerb starting from Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited Exchange at Kurla-end till Kalanagar at Bandra (East).