Share-auto services to begin in Mumbai next week

In a bid to ease traffic congestion and reduce commuter woes in the metropolis, the Maharashtra government has decided to launch 'share-an-auto' service in the Mumbai suburbs beginning next week.

"The service would take the commuters to and from railway stations in the suburbs. The first such service would start at Bandra-Kurla Complex on September 16," Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said.

The state transport department will start this service on 11 new routes including BKC in phase one, and upto 50 auto shuttle stands are expected to be set up in later phases across the suburbs within next two months, Vikhe-Patil said.

The initiative was taken after the 'Meter Down' campaign last month when harried commuters refused to travel by taxis and autos protesting errant behaviour of drivers and their refusal to ply short distances.

The Regional Transport Office will monitor the share-an-auto service to ensure that drivers follow the rules. Also, this would increase the carrying capacity to three person from one passenger and also reduce snarls and regulate traffic on the city streets, an official from the transport department said.