Mumbai: This BEST lane has become a site for motorist-traffic cop feud

Traffic police stop vehicles near the Metro station on the WEH. Pic/Anurag Ahire

A lane dedicated to BEST buses in Andheri East has become the site of feuds between motorists and traffic police. The Parera Hill Road in Andheri East has multiple corporate houses but people can't take their vehicles to office. The road sees an average of 250 e-challans daily over entering the no-entry lane.

Office-goers often plead with traffic police to let them ply on the road. "Our office is located inside Anjani Complex, Parera Hill Road. But no private or commercial vehicle is allowed on the 500-m stretch between Chakala junction and the WEH Metro. How do we drive to our office then?" said Anand Kotian, who works in the administrative department of a news channel.

"Even if we convince the traffic police at Chakala junction, we still have to deal with those at WEH Metro station junction," Kotian added. Video journalist Anchal Singh, working in the same complex, said, "Fed up with the daily heated arguments with the traffic police, I stopped bringing my car. But there were no trains during the lockdown. I ended up spending heavy amounts to reach office."

"My cab driver gets scared due to e-challans every time he has to come to my office. This issue needs to be resolved soon," said Deepak Dubey, another media professional working in the complex. Deputy Public Relations Officer Manoj Varade said, "There is a dedicated lane for BEST buses from Holy Family Church Junction to Andheri station for the past 15 years after BEST had sought one for fast services on the Andheri-Kurla Road."

Commercial property dealer Tanuj Kumar Sharma said, "BEST buses need a dedicated lane but not at the cost of our convenience. There is no cut in the lane to reach Chakala junction." "Issuing e-challans every day is not a solution. This would only increase corruption. This is also a sort of harassment. Clients hesitate to visit me. This is costing me business," Sharma added.

‘Lucrative for traffic cops'
Builder KV Rao, also the secretary of Anjani Complex, said, "The traffic cops are working to meet their collection target. This is the most productive lane for collecting fines. I appeal to the police commissioner to give us relief."

What traffic cops say
"We are following our seniors' directives. We understand the people's problem, but we cannot let them use a no-entry lane," said a traffic police officer requesting anonymity.

"We allow employees of corporate houses at Parera Hill Road. There are more than a dozen signages, including at Chakala junction. But vehicles often follow BEST buses," the officer said. A constable deployed at WEH Metro station said, "Violators' patent dialogue is ‘Mujhe nahi malum tha', ‘Lekin BEST buses to jaa rahi hai', ‘kidhar hai no-entry board', ‘Google map did not say it's no-entry'."

Another traffic cop said, "Women often start crying when they are caught, but we cannot spare violators." Sanjay Narvekar, in-charge, Sahar traffic division, said, "We issue at least 1,000 e-challans every day. Of these, on an average, 250 are to violators at WEH junction. We let go those ferrying patients, pregnant woman, elderly and others." "The fine for driving in a no-entry lane is R200 but if the vehicle is rash driving or speeding, the fine is Rs 1,000," Narvekar added.