Truck eats up walking space..

Truck eats up walking space.. pg 8, Mumbai Mirror, 25th April 2013

The better way to bring to a halt all these inconveniences is to declare all streets up to 3 lanes to be Non Parking  at all times.This one act will ensure No Vehicles stay beyond a max. time limit of 2 minutes if needed to disembark a passenger/member of the vehicle.

All Vehicles should have their Owners Mobile Numbers registered with the R.T.O.
Policemen should cease to Tow Vehicles. Instead they should send an SMS to the RTO Control Room. The Control Room in turn sends an SMS to the Vehicle Owner asking him to clear the vehicle immediately. The clock starts. The minute the Vehicle Owner or its driver approaches to clear the vehicle he meets the Policeman. The Policemen asks the Vehicle Owner or Driver to SMS the Control Room, and in turn gets the Fine amount displayed on his Mobile. He either pays the amount and collects receipt, or has it debited to his account, which gets paid ASAP.The Policeman informs the RTO the time when the Vehicle has cleared the spot.

This will avoid all corruption, and ensure Road Discipline.

                       (Image captured standing at the same spot on the Dividers opp. UCO Bank at Four Bungalows)

Currently we have many vehicles that park haphazard on Four Bungalow Lane because of the presence of a road side market. The two lane street thus gets converted to a one lane street, causing untold hardship for all.
If this way to fine the vehicles is adopted, soon we will have a smooth travel anywhere in the city.

Water Harvest.....

BEST puts brakes on bus purchase.....

BEST puts brakes on bus purchase..... pg 9, Times of India 27th April 2013.

It is a BAD idea to reduce the number of buses on the road as a Public Transport by BEST. Yes there should be 99% Up Time for these buses, and Maintenance should be of high caliber.
If the idea is to reduce the number of private vehicles on the city roads, then it is imperative that an efficient public transport be the order of the day. Profit and Loss is not the criteria.Let the fares be decided at cost of operation. Let there be premium fares for the same route also. ie: During peak hours let there be more Ordinary trips, and in non peak hours more Premium trips. The fares for premium trips will be twice of the Ordinary trip, so that members of the public who need to travel speedily can use these premium trips. This will ensure the undertaking does not occur losses.
Secondly it is important that an Annual Audit be conducted for Mechanicals, Electricals, Seating-Back Rest, General outlook of the Vehicle. Vehicles that are inefficient or call for continuous maintenance may be better sent to the scrap yard.
Fleet Up-gradation is a MUST. Members of the Public must travel in Comfort and not be subjected to Stress.
 Thirdly it is a better idea to get in proximity if not at the same stop all buses that are in route, prior to diversion.viz: If on LJ Road Mahim the stretch until Shivaji Park is common, then it is best to have single bus stops in this stretch. The public can decide which bus to board, causing a quick disposal at the stop.

Fourthly the undertaking should think of creating a bus halting stop with a lay-by where ever possible in the City as below.This will ensure the waiting public does not spill onto the roads, and cause buses to halt in a way to block two tracks and thereby cause a reduction in speed of other vehicles.

Tears & Jeers.....

Tears & Jeers as 140 Worli Flat owners told to go in 48 hrs.. pg 2, The Times of India, 27th April 2013.....
While it is a Good idea to demolish any structure that is not as per the approved plan, if the demolition has to occur, then the Builder who constructed the illegal structures, the Authorities who turned a Blind eye and issued the Occupancy Certificate, should all be held responsible. Their Assets should all be seized, and deposited into the Public Treasury. From this account should the families being dis-housed be compensated after verifying if they were aware of the illegality or not.

Hawking .........

Khar ALM exposes BMC-hawker scam.. pg 8, Mumbai Mirror, 22nd April 2013.

We need to create Market places, where ever the local population exceed a defined threshold.
This is part of the infrastructure need for society to thrive. Until then we can permit hawkers On a given stretch of a street / road, hawking should be permitted only one side of the stretch and the other footpath left free for pedestrians. Those wanting to buy goods will need to walk the vending stretch. This single measure will ensure quick flow of those who do not wish to get caught in the melee'. It is also my recommendation to call for designs from architects on standardization and simplification of stall designs and after due consideration, ensure that all stalls on a given stretch confirm to these specifications. The main point for consideration being aesthetics, and standard areas. This stall area is determined by calculating the earnings possible by sale of product vs. the earnings needed for the hawker to maintain a family of four. Provision should also be made to ensure the allotted member alone stands at the stall at the appointed hour for dispensing of goods. His details and photograph should be prominently displayed. No person other than the allotted should be permitted to sell the wares. This will prevent stall capturing. In allotting stalls priority should be given to a single member in a family. Only after all unemployed applicants are covered should the second member be given opportunity.

Nightmare on Eastern Express Highway...

Nightmare on  Eastern Express Highway... pg 5 Mumbai Mirror of 22nd April 2013

A religious procession from Dharavi forces motorists to be stuck in jams for hours; many missed their flights.
There should be a blanket ban on all sorts of processions that impede traffic. Any procession or assembly of persons for political, social or religious purposes should NEVER be permitted to inconvenience members of the public at large to espouse their cause. A LAW should be enacted for the same.