Mumbai: Traffic police plans to ease congestion outside Railway stations

In a move intended to make the areas near major railway stations in the city congestion-free, Mumbai Traffic Police will now be clearing the area near the station of hawkers, and auto rickshaw and taxis parked outside. This move is to provide commuters getting off the train a congestion-free area to walk in.

"We intend to concentrate on railway stations and the target we have set is to ensure that at peak hours, people alighting from the trains should not feel congestion at that point, or even pedestrians approaching the railway station. We are developing strategies in this regard," said Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Amitesh Kumar, who had assumed the charge as the Mumbai Police Traffic head last month.

Some of the railway stations the traffic police have identified where they are likely to initiate this move are Mahalaxmi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Andheri, and Churchgate.

Traffic police are coordinating with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to implement the initiative. "BMC's support and assistance would be required for successful implementation of this initiative," said a traffic police officer.

"People should feel the least amount of congestion at the points of entering and exiting from the stations. We will try to ensure senior officers are visible at these points during peak hours to make sure the initiative is working well. Depending on the its success, we will chalk out a plan regarding other places where it can be implemented," said another police officer.