2-wheelers main cause of vehicular pollution in city

Mumbai: The rising number of vehicles in the city is leading to an increase in the air and noise pollution levels. In just the last year, the number of vehicles in the city increased by 42,674, most of which were two-wheelers. To top this, most of these vehicles are found to be using less eco-friendly fuel, such as LPG and CNG.

The break-up of the vehicles in the city includes, 59.45 per cent two-wheelers, 32.07 per cent private cars, 3.48 per cent taxis/cabs, 4.20 per cent auto rickshaws and 0.44 per cent buses.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation  (BMC)’s Environment Status Report for 2017-18 has shown that by the end of March 2015, the total number of vehicles in the city stood at 33,52,640.

March 2017, the number was 33,09,966, whereas in March 2016 there were 27,86,512 vehicles in the city.

 However, it is the two-wheelers,  whose numbers have been increasing rapidly in the last couple of years. In 2016, there were 16,00,998 two-wheelers in the city. However, in the next two years, their numbers jumped to 19,68,019 in 2017 and 19,52,955 in 2018.

 Almost all two wheelers are running on petrol, which leads to air pollution. In fact, as many as 23,73,501 two-wheelers have been found to be using petrol. Diesel is being used by 4,08,453 vehicles. The number of vehicles using eco-friendly fuel such as LPG and CNG is a lowly 17,835 and 25,2701 respectively.

On the other hand, more than 90 per cent of the metered taxis and 92 per cent rickshaws are running on CNG and LPG. There are 93,013 metered taxis in the city operating on petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG as on March 2018. “To reduce air pollution in  city, it is essential to encourage public transport,” said report.