‘Restraining traffic is not feasible’

Supporting the state government’s stand, the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), on Tuesday, told the Bombay high court that the traffic restrain system (TRS) was not feasible in Mumbai. The court has closed the PIL for orders.

The written submissions of the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), given to the court on Tuesday by their advocate Shiraz Rustomjee, stated that TRS was successfully applied in Beijing before the Olympic Games in 2008.

TRS based on number plates are also operational in Manila, Mexico city, Bogota, Athens and various cities in Italy, and have resulted in significant reductions in congestion and air pollution.

Arguing for the WIAA, advocate MP Rao said, “Mumbai does not have a business district. Even areas like Nariman Point and Fort are 40% residential areas. The automobile industry provided 20 million jobs and restraining the automobiles was an option which only the BEAG found practical.”

State government counsel SK Nair said that projects under Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project and Mumbai Urban Transport Project are underway. “By developing infrastructure you are not going to solve this mess,” justice Bilal Nazki remarked.

The court was informed that of the vehicular population, two wheelers amount to 53%, non-commercial vehicles take up 31% and commercial vehicles take up the remaining 16%.

Justice Nazki said that the problem with the government was that it did not want to experiment with TRS. Rustomjee urged the court to direct the government to undertake the completion of its infrastructure projects in a fixed time frame.