The city’s first Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) shows that the number of private vehicles in Mumbai has gone up by 50 per cent in the last five years. This is indicative of the massive challenge that the BMC is set to face with regard to regulating traffic.
The data shows that the number of private vehicles in 2015 was 15 lakh, which has risen to 22.7 lakh in 2015. “The data shows that the city not only needs a road map, but also to set its priorities and funding. Even we have been taken by surprise to see that it took 60 years for the city to have 15 lakh vehicles and then in five years it increased by another seven lakh. There is an amazing increase in the number of vehicles coming on the streets (sic),” said additional municipal commissioner S.V.R. Srinivas.
As per the plan, the private vehicle growth is expected to rise significantly in the next two decades. In 2019, it would be 29.7 lakh, whereas in 2024 and 2034, 38 lakh and 56.2 lakh vehicles would be city roads.
According to the civic officials, the total costs for strengthening public transport till the year 2016 would be Rs 13,378 crore, of which Rs 4,851 crore would be required for strengthening of the road and highway system, Rs 3,821 crore would be needed for putting in place traffic management measures and Rs 207 crore for strengthening the bus system among several other things.
“The city needs to be ready for future traffic problems in terms of road networks, parking, increase in private vehicles, traffic jams, flyovers, missing links and we also need to draw least cost solutions. Secondly we are planning by taking into consideration land use plan, employment potential, population potential and public transport,” said Mr Srinivas.
