South Mumbai to lose taxi stands over security concerns

After turning two 13/7 blasts sites, Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House, into no-parking zones, the city police is determined to tighten SoBo security further, even in the face of opposition that it might be going too far by proposing to ban any vehicle, private or otherwise, from being parked in the business district.

Citing an “imminent threat”, senior police inspector of Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station, Avinash Sonawne, recently wrote to the traffic police requesting removal of seven heavily patronised taxi stands in the area to decongest its narrow lanes and by-lanes, which brim with people throughout the day.

The locations of the seven taxi stands are: Dava Bazaar, Jumma Masjid, Cotton Exchange, Adarsh hotel, Vardhaman Chowk, Kumbhar Tukda and Dhanji Street.

The letter, sent to the traffic department, was forwarded to the central Regional Transport Office (RTO) at Mumbai Central a couple of days ago. As expected, the idea has not gone down well with both the traffic department and taxi unions. A senior RTO official said, “What will this achieve? These stands have existed for several decades and are used extensively by office-goers in the area. While we do not dismiss the security-related concerns of the police, but they should have at least given us alternative locations where these stands can be relocated to. We will write to the planning department of the traffic police to come up with options before the scheduled meeting on August 25 where this issue will be discussed.”

According to a ruling by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), the right to remove or locate taxi stands rests with the taxi stand committee, which comprises representatives of traffic police, the civic body, RTO, taxi unions, and consumers’ organisations. It will meet on August 25 to debate the issue.

RTO sources said, a survey may be conducted to find new places close to the existing stands so that instead of removing them altogether, they can be relocated.

Sonawne said, “Zaveri Bazaar has been targeted thrice by terrorists, and taxies have been used to carry out some of the blasts.

Hence, there is an imminent threat and quick action is needed to decongest the area of motor vehicles. Taxi drivers are so careless that even if a terrorist plants a bomb in their vehicle when they are not around, they won’t know. This is why we have decided to be very strict from now on. In our jurisdiction, we have prosecuted motorists in 575 cases after July 13 to ensure that rules are followed strictly.”