Despite new Metro lines, RTOs see 23% increase in vehicle registration on Gudi Padwa | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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Despite new Metro lines, RTOs see 23% increase in vehicle registration on Gudi Padwa

ByShashank Rao
Mar 23, 2023 12:56 AM IST

Mumbai: Despite the two new metro lines — Metro-2A and Metro-7 connecting the western suburbs, there has been an almost 23% increase in the number of vehicles registered at the three Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) — Borivali, Andheri and Wadala — on the day of Gudi Padwa

Mumbai: Despite the two new metro lines — Metro-2A and Metro-7 connecting the western suburbs, there has been an almost 23% increase in the number of vehicles registered at the three Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) — Borivali, Andheri and Wadala — on the day of Gudi Padwa.

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In the last two days, 1,319 two-wheelers and four-wheelers were registered at these three RTOs as compared to 1,073 vehicles registered in 2022. Officials figures from Tardeo RTO, which registers vehicles in south Mumbai, was not available.

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Both Andheri and Borivali RTOs saw an upward trend in the number of vehicles registered. As per figures of vehicles registered on Gudi Padwa days of March 21 and 22; the Andheri and Borivali RTOs saw registration of 182 and 240 four-wheelers. Likewise, at least 290 two-wheelers were registered at Andheri RTO and another 190 in Borivali RTO.

Coincidentally, the two new Metro rail lines of Metro-2A and Metro-7 connect the western suburbs and were launched with an intention of reducing vehicular traffic on roads. These two metro lines run on Link Road — which caters to residential, commercial offices and plush restaurants and malls as well — and the Western Express Highway all the way from Dahisar to Andheri.

The Metro rail figures suggest that everyday ridership is 1.4 lakh on the two lines. The stations of Andheri (DN Nagar) and Gundavali has most footfalls with daily average of 15,000 passengers.

“Our observation is that people residing in far off suburbs such as Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali and Malad are opting for four wheelers; which cannot be a good sign for public transportation,” said an RTO officer.

As for the two-wheelers, there has been a drop in the number of those registered in Borivali. At Andheri RTO, the number of four-wheelers registered went up from 121 during last year to 182 this year and increase in two-wheelers as well to 290 this year from 223 in 2022. Likewise, this was also the case at Wadala RTO as well where the number of four wheelers registered were more than that of two wheelers.

“I believe that until and unless all the Metro corridors are up and running and network is developed, until then it will not yield desired results. Moreover, the existing metro rails are not operating at full capacity and there is scope for running 8-9 coaches as well which will help a lot,” said Paresh Rawal, Public Policy Analyst (Transportation).

“Moreover, with offices moving to Bandra Kurla Complex, Powai, Goregaon or Airoli; people prefer taking their cars or motorbikes that balances the factors of comfort and commute time,” added Rawal.

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