In a significant move, the Mumbai Traffic Police recently banned the use of handcarts in South Bombay (SoBo) during peak hours to ease traffic congestion in the area.
According to an official notification issued by the Mumbai Traffic Police on May 8, the movements of handcarts as well as the loading/unloading of goods has been banned from 8 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 8 pm as it results in consequent inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians alike.
“The movement of handcarts and loading/unloading of goods on major arterial roads is causing inconvenience to the public and causing traffic jams, especially during peak hours in south Mumbai. Therefore, to prevent obstruction, inconvenience to the public and to maintain smooth vehicular traffic movements, there shall be no plying of any type of handcarts, no loading/unloading of goods excluding vehicles supplying essential services,” the order stated.
Additionally, in the move, 40 roads have been added to the list where handcarts will not be allowed. Some of the prominent ones are Madame Cama Road, Abdul Rehman Street, P D’mello Road, Mohammad Ali Road, Sir JJ Road, August Kranti Road, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Maharshi Karve Road.
Unhappy with this decision, local businesses and porters running handcarts in the area said their daily job will be hampered. Areas like Abdul Rehman Street, Masjid Bunder and Mohammed Ali Road often have handcarts to load/unload goods. Meanwhile, the traffic police said that handcart traffic creates bottlenecks on already narrow roads dotted with small shops on both sides.
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