BEST looses revenue for fault of BMC & Traffic dept

In a short sighted approach and to cover up the lapses and poor planning of the MMRDA, the BMC and the Traffic police had closed down a vital right turn at the Kurla end of the SCLR, this has now resulted in a daily loss of Rs 1.79 Lakhs due to excess expenses for the BEST, which bearing the brunt of the fiasco being committed by the 3 agencies, this has been now revealed in a reply to RTI Activist Anil Galgali by the BEST. It has also informed that the BEST is now contemplating a increase in its fare by Rs 4/= to recover the loss. RTI Activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the BEST undertaking, regarding the losses being incurred due to the diversion being forced to undertaken due to the closure of the right turn towards the Kurla station west. In its reply, Shri Abhay Shelar, Asst Depot Manger informed that, the closure of the left turn from the SCLR to Kurla Station has effected the distance and timings of 18 of its regular routes. A total of 1411 trips are undertaken on these 18 routes from this route resulting a extra distance travel of 1834.3 Kms as the diversion has led to increase of distance by 1.3 kms (1411 * 1.3 = 1834.3 kms). The undertaking incurs a cost of Rs 97.72 per km, resulting in a total loss of Rs 1,79,248 =00 on a daily basis ( 97.72 * 1834.3 = 1,79,248). The closure of the left turn towards the Kurla station has effected Bus route nos - 37, 192, 183, 309, 310, 313 Ltd extra, 318, 320, 325, 326, 330, 332, 349, 365, 446 and 15. It has now proposed to the administration for approval to increase the bus fares by Rs 4 each from 121 stops on the routes of the buses playing on the route. It also informed Galgali that, the MMRDA, BMC & the Traffic dept's did not deem it fit to seek its opinion on the closure of the turn, also no suggestions or chance for raising objections was provided to BEST. Anil Galgali, also sought information from the MMRDA about the closure of the left turn. In its reply the MMRDA informed that the SCLR was handed over to the BMC on 2nd May, 2015, hence the information sought, be taken from the BMC. MMRDA also gave a copy of the letter from Traffic dept dt 16th May, 2015, in which it has mentioned that, on the instructions of the BMC, the traffic dept closed the  right turn by installing Cove stones on 6th May 2015, it further mentions that due instructions from the Traffic Officer L Ward, Shri Prataprao Dighavkar and the Addl Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) , the dividers were installed to ensure the closure of the right turn. It further claims that the steps were taken to ensure smooth and faster traffic movement on the SCLR and the same is very essential. Kurla police in a report send to Bmc,Mmrda and Traffic police on 15 June clearly claim that removal the speed breaker causes a death of women who was hit by unknown vehicle at Hanuman Mandir on 12th June while crossing the road. Kurla police urges to open a right turn towards Kurla Station to maintain the law and order situation in this area.   Anil Galgali has stated that, the action taken by the BMC and the Traffic dept is illegal as no notifications were issued for the same as no proper procedures were followed. This has also resulted in a loss of life of a woman, who met with the accident due to removal of the speed breaker after the closure. The said closure was done without application of mind by the authorities with a short sighted approached and has caused immense inconvenience to the local commuters also leading to loss of lives and daily losses for the BEST dept. In a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, Galgali has demanded that the losses of the BEST be recovered from decision making IAS Officer Mr Srinivas, Addl Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) and other responsible officers or the BMC and the Police dept compensate the losses of the BEST. He further stated that the manner in which the road closure was executed without issuing any notification exhibits a sense of bravado in the said officers, Galgali further questioned that why this bravado is not exhibited by the same officers in clearing the encroachments and illegal parkings on the CST Road and SG Barve Marg?