Commute

Mumbai's beloved red double decker buses, steeped in memories cherished by millions over the decades, made their last journey on the streets of Mumbai on September 15. The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) authorities announced that these vehicles, reaching the end of their 15-year operational lifespan, will go off the roads completely. These buses have been replaced by electric AC double decker buses and a few are already operational. On late Thursday evening, a day before the last ride of the double-decker bus, the BEST officials also announced that the AC electric double decker fleet will be taken to…

The transport department’s notification on the mandatory installation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) has confused vehicle owners. It is mandatory  for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, to install HSRPs by November 17, 2023.  The number of such vehicles is well over a crore and it is possible that the date maybe shifted a few times. However, if your vehicle is older than April 2019 it will be necessary to install HSRPs soon. Here is an explainer on what is HSRP and how to get one:      What is HSRP? High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) is a standard for vehicle…

Overwhelming response to a first-of-its-kind outreach initiative 95% of the 3,855 respondents of the #Personal2Public Bengaluru questionnaire are keen to shift to Metro Seamless integration and travel time were a priority over travel cost A campaign towards sustainable commute Namma Metro has been seeing a steady increase in its ridership, despite its myriad issues, such as few lines are operational, first and last mile connectivity. With the much-awaited metro lines to Whitefield and Electronic City expected to be operational in September 2023 and January 2024, respectively, extending the Namma Metro network to ~93 kms, is an opportune moment to promote…

In response to the increasing challenges posed by the rising number of private vehicles leading to traffic congestion and air pollution, concerned citizens and organisations in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have joined forces to advocate for a "Free Bus Day." Recognising air pollution as a pressing health emergency affecting citizens across all age groups, particularly children and the elderly, the call for enhanced public transportation emerges as a crucial strategy to combat this crisis. The Pune Air Action Hub, a dedicated platform committed to addressing air quality concerns, has submitted a letter to the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML),…

As I climbed the stairs of the Velachery - Taramani link road Foot Over Bridge (FOB) at around 9 pm, I found myself in near total darkness as the FOB did not have any lights. The FOB has a roof on the top and sheets on the side, limiting light from the street entering it. Using the flashlight from my phone, I climbed further. Soon I found footsteps following me. A man was climbing the stairs behind me. Gripped by fear, I turned around, pretended to make a phone call and waited till he walked past me.  As I walked…

The system of sharing autorickshaw rides with unknown fellow passengers travelling on the same route, may seem a win-win solution for citizens, as they're convenient, quick and pocket-friendly; and also for auto drivers as they get good money. But it does not always work so smoothly.  Many shared auto stands are run illegally, especially near suburban railway stations. The auto drivers overcharge the commuters and as many as four to five passengers, when only three are allowed. With metered autorickshaws refusing to ply on those routes, commuters do not have much choice.  An estimated 2.5 lakh autorickshaws ply in suburban…

On 12th July, I boarded the last train from Thane station to Koparkhairane, where I live. The train was scheduled to reach at about 12:30 am. I travel regularly by local train, but I still avoid catching the last train. However, the nature of my freelancing work makes it unavoidable sometimes. The train stopped between stations, just after Ghansoli station for almost 20 minutes. It was well past midnight. Only one more woman was travelling in the compartment along with her child.  We waited patiently for the first 10 minutes, but when we saw no signs of the train moving, the…

Chennai’s bus operator Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has a staggering 504 driver vacancies, 75 conductor vacancies and 246 technical positions unfilled as of May 2023, while the oldest bus in the fleet is an ancient 17.4 years, data obtained under the Right to Information Act shows. The MTC recently emerged shaken from prolonged litigation in the Madras High Court, as people with disabilities sought to assert their right to accessible buses under the law (Sec. 41 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Harmonised Guidelines of the Union government), and wanted the bus corporation to procure…

After being confined within the four walls of her house all her life, Neetu Mehta, finally ventured out on her own, six months ago. “Basic transport accessibility is the bare minimum anyone can ask for, in the pursuit of growth and equal opportunities,” says Neetu, who has been travelling by Mumbai’s local train in her wheelchair, with great difficulty and help from fellow commuters. A fever during her infancy had left her legs with irregular development, a condition that changed her life. The risks and uncertainties while using public transport to reach places, and the pressure of being a burden…

Dear  Smt. Manjula V, Commissioner, Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) Smt. G. Sathyavathi, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)  This is with reference to a webinar held by Citizen Matters, Bengaluru, on what makes commuters choose cars and bikes over buses and metro and how this can change. The webinar, titled ‘‘Why not public transport?’, was held on July 21, 2023.  The panellists included experts, Srinivas Alavilli, Fellow, Integrated Transport and Road Safety, World Resources Institute (WRI) India; Shreya Satish Mokhashi, Assistant Urban Planner at Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT); Jayenkumar Desai, Head of Strategy and Transformation…