Autorickshaws in the western suburbs have finally broken the Mumbai barrier.
Now, commuters travelling by autorickshaws can cross over at Dahisar check naka and enter Mira Road, thanks to an initiative by the Regional Transport Office (RTO). Earlier, people had to switch autos at Dahisar check naka to go to Mira Road and beyond.
Officials of the new RTO office at Borivli got all the 10 auto unions in both the areas to the negotiating table and got the order implemented. Autos have begun plying across the border.
“The notification for seamless travel was issued in 2008, but it was not implemented due to opposition from local auto unions who did not allow autos from Mumbai to go beyond Dahisar check naka and autos from areas beyond Dahisar were stopped from coming into Mumbai,’’ a senior RTO official said.
“It used to turn into a law and order problem but it was loss for commuters who had to switch autos at the border. It was inconvenient for senior citizens and those with luggage as they again had to haggle with another auto to reach their destination,’’ he said.
“We got all the 10 active unions in the area on a common platform and worked out negotiations. Most of the stake holders have agreed and then we went ahead and pasted posters about the seamless travel initiative at Dahisar check naka and other areas so that commuters were informed about it. So far, it has been going well,’’ he added.
Commuters thanked the RTO for the initiative. “It was a practical problem at the city’s borders and such initiatives make life easier. I’ll only pray that this new arrangement continues,’’ said Ranjan Sarkar, a Mira Road resident.
Same RTO team in action again
The new goodwill gesture for commuters has been launched by the same team of officials of the new Borivli RTO who had originally launched the drive against faulty meters in autorickshaws that led to commuter fury and strict action against meter tampering.
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