Pool your car online & help ease traffic jams

“The idea of using carpools has not really taken off in a big way anywhere in the city. It can be a very effective way to solve the problem of growing traffic congestion,and this model has been used to great effect in countries like New Zealand. We want more and more citizens to avail of carpools,and therefore we are developing a website through which we can bring together people interested in the idea,” said JCP (Traffic) Sanjay Barve.

“We will first load a template on the site requesting users to provide their contact details and other required information while registering themselves. Users will be required to provide details of their pickup point and destination,as well as their time of travel. A computer program that is being developed will then spot compatible requests and pass on the information to the group of users identified,” he added.

He said Mumbai traditionally has a general tidal traffic flow in just one direction or the opposite,according to the start and end of office hours. “However,with an increasing number of offices being set up in areas like Bandra Kurla Complex and Wadala,at least four new business hubs are emerging in the city and the tidal flow is changing to a more complex flow in several directions and to several areas. This is good for traffic management as the flow is spread out,” he said.

Users will not be able to register with their motor driving licences or any document other than their debit or credit cards. “It becomes difficult to authenticate and get back to the user without a debit or credit card. This will be mandatory. In return for the service,the traffic police will charge a nominal amount of around 10 per cent of the fare since the online payments will also be processed using a secure gateway provided by us,” said Barve.

The police are contemplating fixing fares at Rs 50,75 and 100 depending on travel distance. Exact fares are still to be worked out.

“The idea is still at a very nascent stage and the exact modalities are being worked out. It will take around six months to develop a sophisticated,reliable and secure site for the carpool service. Once it is ready,we are very optimistic it will catch on very quickly and solve part of the city’s traffic woes,” Barve said.