Running along three residential buildings, the tapering Gulmohar Lane gradually narrows into a dead end.
And in the taxi stand are exactly three neatly-parked taxis.
It’s a rare scene of order in the chaos of Andheri’s gargantuan Sher-e-Punjab Housing Society. And behind it lies yet another Maharashtra Right to Information (MRTI) Act success story.
‘‘Several taxis would park erratically in the lane, blocking residents’ access to their own buildings,’’ remembers Sandeep Balani (39), a financial services provider and member of the Gulmohar Lane Association.
‘‘Our requests went unheeded. It made no difference that the taxi stand board specified three taxis.’’
As the problem worsened, what perplexed the association—of three buildings and 30-odd flats—was a letter from the housing society saying Gulmohar Lane was part of the private layout plan, not a civic road.
‘‘The obvious question, then: How was the taxi stand authorised on a private lane without the owner’s permission?’’ asks Balani.
But getting the answer proved to be an exercise in frustration. Starting August 15 2003, they sent a series of letters to the assistant municipal commissioner of the ward, the Road Transport Officer, the Taximen’s Union secretary—and then with increasing, desperate anger—to the joint commissioner of police (Traffic), the transport commissioner, then the police commissioner.
‘‘We kept asking under whose jurisdiction the problem lies, and how it can be solved,’’ recalls Balani.
‘‘We were made to run from pillar to post. Forget achieving any result, we weren’t even deemed worthy of a reply.’’
Until they heard of the MRTI Act.
On June 1, 2004, the association filed an application asking whether Gulmohar Lane belonged to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On June 19, the Public Information Officer (PIO) wrote back saying it was part of a private layout and did not belong to the BMC.
‘‘That clearly proved that the Road Transport Officer had illegally authorised the taxi stand,’’ says Balani.
‘‘Within days, the local transport officer and A L Quadros, secretary of the Taximen’s Union, dropped in, suggesting that a settlement be reached.’’ The result is the orderly scene on Gulmohar Lane today.
And if the taxi drivers have been inconvenienced, they aren’t saying so. Says taxi driver Ganesh Yadav: ‘‘Only three taxis are parked here at any given time, as directed by our union leader.’’
MRTI’s best clause, says Balani, is that the PIO must reply within 15 days.
‘‘Otherwise how many government servants feel it their duty to respond to a member of the public?’’
‘‘Give MRTI 10 years,’’ predicts a buoyant Balani, ’’It will change the way India, particularly rural India, is ruled.’’ Perhaps he is exaggerating, but only just.
chitrangada@expressindia.com