Mumbai gears up to drive India’s first car pool

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s citizens will soon be India’s first commuter group to shift gears from whining about traffic and pollution to driving a sensible eco-friendly campaign.

The country’s pioneering car pool system is likely to be launched early next month in the city.

The concept, which has long been advocated by NGOs like the Mumbai Environment and Social Group, is designed to reduce the number of vehicles on city roads by creating an effective car pool.

Not only would the initiative lower pollution and fuel consumption, but it would also prove an economical alternative to the overcrowded public transport system.

According to MESG, over 70 per cent of Mumbai’s cars carry a single passenger. This amounts to approximately 15 lakh empty seats on the road daily.

The project, which is likely to rev up in June, will initially be open only to corporate clients.

“Several corporations such as HDFC, ICICI, SBI, Godrej, Colgate, and Porsche India have expressed an interest,” said Joshua D’Souza, CEO, Koolpool. “The system will be extended to the public as soon as we have a critical mass of 200 members in a certain area.”

Once a request for registration is submitted at the Koolpool website, it is verified as a safety measure by ICICI Bank. The membership, which comes at an annual fee of Rs350, allows members travelling along the same route to network.

It offers the car-owner Rs25 per passenger as fuel cost in the form of credits at Hindustan Petroleum pumps, which will also serve as pick-up points.

“It’s a good concept,” an HPCL officer said. “We have agreed in principle to participate as it is in keeping with the national policy on conservation of fuel.”