VASAI: The twin horrors of unauthorised street vendors and illegal autos have resulted in ambulances getting stuck in traffic on a daily basis near Tulinj police station in Nalasopara east. Auto unions and drivers claim traffic cops take bribes and allow hundreds of illegal, or nulla autos, to ply.
Nulla autos are vehicles that do not have papers or their fitness certificates have lapsed, but no one really checks them. In fact, an activist who went to cops seeking permission to hold an agitation against unauthorised hawkers and auto drivers was served a notice citing prohibitory orders. Police, however, have denied the allegations.
The Tulinj police station junction is a busy area generally manned by 2-3 traffic constables as people use the junction to go to Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad NH via Nalasopara phata. The junction is used by private vehicles, VVCMC buses, autos, school buses and intra-state buses. Also, a few meters away is the entry-exit point leading to Nalasopara railway station, resulting in heavy footfall. A flyover passes through the junction and below the connector are 5-6 auto stands with at least 200 rickshaws parked.
With several autos halting right in the middle of the road to pick up passengers or lining up adjacent to the police station for business, ambulances on their way to Vasai, Virar or towards Mumbai have a difficult time maneuvering their way through the chaos. In the evenings, along with autos, other private vehicles too ferry passengers, flouting all norms and blocking roads.
Ramdas Waghmare, who heads Jai Bharat Auto Union and is also the district general secretary of Congress (Palghar), said there are around 100-150 nulla autos, and cops charge around Rs 1,200 to 2,000 from each a month. “This is organised corruption and we are fighting against this,” he said. Girishchandra Pandey, who operates his auto from Pragati Nagar to Nalasopara station, echoes him, adding policemen have “collectors” to collect money on their behalf.
Chetan Macha, an activist, said instead of taking action on his complaints, police served him a notice for seeking their approval for a rasta roko over the issue. Hundreds of unauthorised street vendors are another pain point that the civic body refuses to act against, he said. According to Macha, with footpaths and roadsides occupied, hapless public is forced to walk on the streets, adding to the traffic chaos.
Manish, an ambulance driver, said, “We have to change our route to avoid traffic when we have to go to Nalasopara west or Virar west.”
Refuting the allegations, Vasai traffic PI Mahesh Shetye, said, “Ambulances are always given priority. As far as allegations of bribes are concerned, it is false. We always take action against illegal autos. I myself have taken action against 20-odd autos today.”
