Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 26 Jun: The Mussoorie Taxi Car Owners’ Association has welcomed the decision to install dividers in the middle of Motilal Nehru Marg to curb illegal roadside parking. The Association states that this initiative will provide significant relief from the long-standing traffic congestion problem and improve traffic management.
Expressing gratitude to the local administration, the Municipality, the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Mussoorie Police, Association General Secretary Rakesh Kotal noted that daily traffic jams were caused by so-called ‘daggamar’ taxis illegally parked along Motilal Nehru Marg. The installation of dividers will now effectively curb this issue. He mentioned that the Association had been raising this matter with the administration for a long time. During the tourist season, traffic was severely disrupted by vehicles illegally parked on the roadside, and legitimate taxi operators had to bear the brunt of this situation.
Rakesh Kotal stated that a large number of taxis are illegally parked along the roadside not only on Motilal Nehru Marg but also on Municipality Road. This leads to persistent traffic jams throughout the day, causing inconvenience to both the general public and tourists. He urged the administration to install dividers on other sufficiently wide roads as well, to permanently put a stop to illegal roadside parking.
The Association maintains that the operation of illegal taxis often tarnishes the image of all taxi operators. In various meetings and complaints, the entire taxi trade is often put in the dock, even though the majority of authorised taxi operators adhere to the rules. The General Secretary emphasised that the administration should clearly distinguish between authorised and illegal taxi operations and conduct continuous drives against ‘daggamar’ vehicles. Locals also believe that, if illegal parking on the city’s main roads is effectively controlled, the traffic congestion problem in Mussoorie could be significantly reduced. During the tourist season, such measures would bring relief to both tourists and local residents. The association expressed hope that the administration would continue to take similar concrete steps in the future to further streamline Mussoorie’s traffic system.
