Mumbai: Colaba residents seek relocation of BEST bus stops near Gateway of India

The Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association CHCRA has written to Rahul Narwekar Speaker Maharashtra Legislative Assembly MLA Colaba Constituency about the removal and relocation of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST bus stops at Gateway of India and the discontinuation of bus movement through the precinctThe communication dated June 24 and signed by president Subhash Motwani and vicepresident Pervez Cooper cited that bus stops opposite the Gateway of India and outside the Royal Bombay Yacht Club RBYC have become ldquopersistent traffic choke pointsrdquoVehicles and people are inches away from each other PicsAshish RajeExcerpts from the communication say ldquoThis stretch is fundamentally a pedestrian zone and should not be burdened with regular bus movementrdquo It also says ldquoallowing buses to continue operating in this manner reflects poor traffic planning and disregard for public safety and heritage conservationrdquoExcerptsSubhash Motwani Right and Pervez Cooper point at no footpath as a bus is stationaryGround realityThe BEST buses considerably crowded on a Friday morning took a sharp left turn from the Causeway into the lane just ahead of Regal and before Cafe MondegarThis is a road leading to the Gateway made narrow by cars parked on both sides Several stalls on the left footpath mean pedestrians were walking on the road very close to busesThe scenario is dire as buses turn and stop opposite the Gateway Cabs are parked at the corner as buses turn in There is no footpath This is a deadly traffic cocktailGateway visitors run across the road crossing hurriedly as buses and cabs turn in The crowd is huge on weekends and public holidays making this a very unsafe zoneWhile cabs were wary as the police were seen outside the chowki many cabs at the kerb do not ply by meter on busy days demanding 100 and up for tourists who want to go a short distance Desperate visitors and some locals too give in Words worthSubhash Motwani CHCRA president residentldquoThis is an absolute disaster waiting to happen Pedestrians do not have any rights Go to other countries and see how wellplanned the heritage precinct is it is safe for people and they are actually encouraged to walk and view a monument of historical significance We will wake up only after some huge tragedy takes place hererdquoPervez Cooper CHCRA vicepresidentldquoCabs and buses are jostling for space on the road and the pedestrians seem last in the pecking order You must see this absolute mess during the holidays It is like a Ripleyrsquos Believe It or Not Senior police officials and all authorities must move to envision this entire space keeping safety in mind No footpaths vehicles passing inches away from people visitors running across to go on the other side the chaos is monumentalrdquo Solution proposed by peopleBuses should stop at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji Chowk near the museum allowing visitors to walk to the Gateway which is just five minutes away via welldefined pedestrianfriendly pathways Senior citizens and those unable to walk the distance could be accommodated through a special buggy service or some special vehicle which may be part of the rehaul planLocalSpeakSachin Sa workerldquoIn the vicinity alighted from a bus and was going to his workplace at the Gateway of India He said ldquoThis bus is useful for those who work in the area Yet safety is a concern Even if buses stop at the museum some small ferry service must be available for seniors to and from the Gatewayrdquo