TRS untimely and impractical: Transport Commissioner

The State Transport Commissioner on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the implementation of the Traffic Restraint Scheme TRS...

The State Transport Commissioner on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the implementation of the Traffic Restraint Scheme TRS, proposed for decongestion of vehicular traffic flowing into the island city, is untimely and impractical. A division bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice K K Tated was hearing a public interest litigation PIL filed by Bombay Environmental Action Group BEAG seeking the implementation of the TRS in 2003.The court has now adjourned the hearing till September 24.

Transport Commissioner, Shyamsunder Shinde, in his affidavit stated, 8220;the implementation of the TRS, at this point of time, looking at the public transportation effort, the constraints earlier stated in the scheme8217;s implementation and the focus on provision first rather than restrictive regulation renders the TRS untimely and impractical.8221; The affidavit further states, 8220; the state government along with the railways and other agencies of the government are alive to the transportation challenges facing the city. Massive effort has been launched to improve Mumbai8217;s public transport. Some of such projects as cited have been completed, others are ongoing and their impact should be positive in easing congestion.8221;

The affidavit carries a list of projects and schemes which are at various stages of implementation by agencies of the government. These according to Shinde would have a 8220;considerable decongesting effect on road traffic.8221; The court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that the government did not deal with the traffic problem seriously. The court had directed the government to file an affidavit stating the measures it proposes to take to avoid clogging up of the city. Government pleader told the court that expert consultants have been appointed to study the situation following which the court sought the report along with the affidavit.

Counsel for BEAG Shiraz Rustomji earlier submitted that none of the things mentioned by the government like the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project MUIP, Mumbai Urban Transport Project MUTP and Mumbai Metro Project, had anything to do with private vehicles. Rustomji had earlier argued that cities around the world have seen a marked difference in road traffic and pollution levels after implementing TRS. The court had earlier asked the state government whether it could ensure the voluntary compliance of the TRS. The state, however, said that they can regulate the flow of traffic under the four walls of the statute but the voluntary compliance can be ensured by an NGO. The state submitted that the MUIP, the MUTP and the Mumbai Metro Project were in the pipeline and would go a long way in easing the traffic woes of the city. The government also pointed out projects like widening of the eastern express highway, elevated corridor from the airport and sea-links that will help reduce the congestion. BEAG in its PIL pressed for the implementation of the scheme first proposed by a committee headed by former transport commissioner V M Lal. The committee had come up with 100 ways to reduce Mumbai8217;s vehicular pollution, one of which was the TRS.