[Rajeevraj]

After Delhi, it is now the turn of Mumbai to start thinking of measures to curb pollution. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has proposed a radical overhaul of Mumbai's vehicle usage to combat rising pollution in the City.

A plan submitted last month suggests that the government could consider four options to cut pollution which has risen to alarming levels as per monitoring agencies:

• A complete ban on new car and bike registrations in the city after a cutoff date. (Unclear on what this means).
  
• A ceiling on new registrations each year.
  
• Approving registrations only after proof of parking space in a housing society or complex is submitted by a buyer.
  
• A congestion tax in some zones.

These steps have been proposed as a part of BMC's Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). The CMP also has proposals on improving the Public Transport Infrastructure.

The BMC's move comes amid a raging debate and rising consciousness among city dwellers and urban policy planners about rising levels of pollution in metros. A fire in a dumping ground in a Mumbai suburb a few weeks ago apparently created thick smog-like conditions all over the city creating a furor over government inaction and the vulnerability of Mumbai to rising pollution.

Of course, this is just a proposal to the government and considering the severity of measures mentioned, may never see the light of the day. But coming on the back of the Delhi Odd-Even Experiment, this could be significant.


Source: Various Online Reports

[arnabchak]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

• A complete ban on new car and bike registrations in the city after a cutoff date. (Unclear on what this means).
• A ceiling on new registrations each year.
• Approving registrations only after proof of parking space in a housing society or complex is submitted by a buyer.
• A congestion tax in some zones.

This will lead to widespread chaos and I fail to understand how any of these will curb pollution?

How does it translate to curbing pollution of I have a parking lot or not?
It is foolish.

It is like asking a vegetarian to eat chicken as we are banning beef!!!

None of these actually looks implementable to me.

[mxh]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

• A complete ban on new car and bike registrations in the city after a cutoff date. (Unclear on what this means).
• A ceiling on new registrations each year.
• Approving registrations only after proof of parking space in a housing society or complex is submitted by a buyer.
• A congestion tax in some zones.

Point 1, 2, 3 - Bribe RTO officials (they are already dreaming about your money). Point 4, i.e. when you finally get the car allotted, government gets even more taxes. And we all know what great use our taxes are put to.
Also notice, there is no mention of anything that will actually curb pollution, like planting more trees, shutting down polluting factories or making bigger roads so that we are not stuck in traffic for 1 hour for every 10 km travelled - since that would involve some actual work at BMC end.

[Mortis]

The Government should first think about improving public transport, having stricter emission norms especially wrt fitness certificates for commercial vehicles and factories and most of all plant some damn trees and increase the green cover for god sakes ! Seen so many huge rain trees dying and getting chopped down of late. In new housing projects there is often no space to plant trees and even if they do there is not enough light penetration due to all the highrises around.

[Desmosedici]

They should focus on,

More green areas
Improve the roads which is pathetic at the moment so that vehicles can run smoother and take lesser time to reach the destination.
Remove unauthorized structures blocking the road and increase road width.
Improve public transport.
Improve connectivity between New Bombay, Eastern, Western and South Bombay.
Reduce the signals. I only see signals increasing month over month and cops standing to fill their pockets.
Strict pedestrian rules after reducing signals. Force people to use sky-walks where its available.
Relocate factories outside the city.
Enforce strict rules on new buildings being built. These also contribute due to particulate matter.
Try the Odd-Even and see if it makes a difference.

If done diligently and honestly, it would make a difference.

Cheers,
Raj

[tsk1979]

How amusing. First they will give approval to builders to build 10,000 flats in 1 sqkm area. Then they will come up with hair brained ideas on how to control congestion.
If you pack people in a small area before connecting that area with viable public transport you will get chaos. This is the story of most metro cities in India.

[S2!!!]

After Delhi's odd-even rule and the ban on registration of new diesel vehicles with engines larger than 2,000cc, it is time for the country's financial capital to take measures to curtail rising pollution and congestion.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) submitted a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) suggesting a complete ban on new car and bike registrations in the city after a cut-off date, a cap on new vehicle registrations each year and mandatory parking space in a housing society or complex to register a vehicle.

The proposal also includes imposing a congestion tax in certain zones in the city. Entry of vehicles in these zones would be banned during certain hours and violators will be heavily fines.



It also proposes the building of 34 exclusive lanes for public transport buses, thus increasing their speed and frequency; widening 707 km of roads and linking roads by removing encroachments; parking charges; a dedicated metro network; 29 rail overbridges; 19 flyovers and 6 elevated roads; and over 100 cycling tracks. The cost of this project is Rs. 1.55 lakh crore and is estimated to be completed in 2034.

Source: ET Auto

[alpha1]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

How amusing. First they will give approval to builders to build 10,000 flats in 1 sqkm area. Then they will come up with hair brained ideas on how to control congestion.
If you pack people in a small area before connecting that area with viable public transport you will get chaos. This is the story of most metro cities in India.

This is the crux of all congestion and population related problems being faced by every metro (and potential) in India.

The maxim in politics is: don't solve the problem, but ensure that you show that visible efforts are being made to solve the problem

[sumathindra]

Well in my opinion, there has to be a beginning somewhere. Bangalore was not like this at least 15 to 20 years back and see how populated (in terms of vehicles) it is today. Yes, there will be a second argument on efficient public transporting etc. however if this is not addressed in major cities, we are inviting more trouble.

It is human to always resist change however if this change is going to make our quality of life better, then why not?

[toofanwheels]

While this in principle is what is required in Mumbai, I am not very sure about how they will implement it. I have seen the congestion charges being very effective in London's central business district and in many other cities, but then the congestion charges are actually prohibitive and there is certainly no bribery !

Also, ban on new vehicle registrations and a quota system to register new vehicles every year outright reflects a great opportunity for the babus to make a quick buck and thereby result in rampant corruption. I hope the government plans this "comprehensive plan" rather comprehensively. Else, this is a can of worms waiting to be opened.

[anilp]

Already a large number of Mumbai vehicles are registered in neighboring cities (Thane/Vasai/Navi Mumbai etc) to save on octroi. This ban/limitation will ensure that this practice thrives further.

A congestion tax levied on a parking fee basis will be easier to enforce than this. Outright spike in parking fees due to this will ensure that people look for other commute options. At the same time, better public transport options (like the metro and upcoming monorail) need to be developed. For example, the metro has already reduced a lot of traffic on the Andheri belt.

[Car-tya]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

How amusing. First they will give approval to builders to build 10,000 flats in 1 sqkm area. Then they will come up with hair brained ideas on how to control congestion.
If you pack people in a small area before connecting that area with viable public transport you will get chaos. This is the story of most metro cities in India.

Got me thinking how on earth do we do city planning. I am yet to see a proper implementation of forward thinking in this country, this included. Given the propensity to ban anything they don't approve of, I am sure one day the government will ban people born on certain dates from going out of their houses to ease congestion. I am beginning to think that improving anything is not on the cards, its just make things more intolerable for normal people. Whats the big picture, I fail to see it.

[Lobogris]

The worst is that the proposed completion date for projects to improve traffic and transportation is too far away at 2034! These projects to improve transportation should be finished in 5 years at the most, not 20 years. If 2034 is proposed then the actual completion might be 2040 or later. We need quicker action.