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Mumbai saw a 109% increase in vehicles over the decade while road length hasn’t changed

The city has 22 lakh registered bikes from the same period, which roughly means there are 1,100 bikes for every km.

Mumbai saw a 109% increase in vehicles over the decade while road length hasn’t changed
SHARES

It’s no secret that traffic and congestion in Mumbai is a major concern for every citizen. New statistics revealed by the Transport Department has now revealed the depth of this issue. It is said that over the past decade i.e. from 2009-10 to November 2019, vehicles on roads have increased exponentially while the lengths of the roads in the city have remained unchanged at 2,000 km. 

In the same period, it is said that there has been a 109% increase in vehicles. The report further adds that there are 150 new cars/SUVs added every day which translates to around 10.6 lakh cars overall in the city. 

The city has 22 lakh registered bikes from the same period, which roughly means there are 1,100 bikes for every km. A combination of these vehicles makes up for a bulk of the pollution in the city, while also creating congestion as well as a scarcity of parking spaces. 

It is also worth noting that the boost in ownership of personal vehicles also happened to coincide with the downsizing of BEST buses in the city, which has concerns of its own. While Metro and Monorail also has a sizeable number of commuters, the authorities have failed to expand the infrastructure in order to accommodate more citizens. 

Experts in the transport also believe that the implementation of a congestion tax is important in crucial business hubs while also pushing for zero-emission vehicles to curb pollution. The introduction of government subsidies for electric vehicles as well as the availability of more charging stations appears to be the only way forward. 

The roads are bursting at the seams and it’s high time the government strikes a balance between public transport and private vehicles,” A V Shenoy of Mumbai Mobility Forum. He also reiterated that there needs to be an emphasis on enhancing public transport infrastructure. 
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