Thane: The city and adjoining suburbs has seen a near double rise in numbers of new heavy freight vehicles hitting the roads in the last financial year compared to 2014. The
increase, say transport officials, is because of the rising demand from the fringe areas of Thane that have now become storage hubs.
As per records available with the Thane transport department, around 96% more
heavy vehicles including mutli-axle vehicles, trucks and lorries have been newly purchased and registered in 2017-18 as compared to 2014-15.
While the number of these heavy vehicles was around 3,254 in 2014-15, the numbers rose to around 6,380 in the previous fiscal year.
The number of trucks and lorries has seen the highest leap in purchase and registrations from 3,005 to 6,095 in the same period. Multi-axle vehicles including the cabin detachable ones used to ferry long trailers have also seen a rise from 10 to around 56 in the last four years. The improvement in the water supply scenario has however reduced the numbers of tankers registered here, informed officials.
Experts and officials justify the drastic jump as more and more companies firms in fast moving consumer goods including electronics and home appliances along with vehicles have set their godowns in Bhiwandi and Kalher area abutting Thane.
The companies find the area very convenient to access and reach their stock to Mumbai or Navi Mumbai leading to a demand for transport modes which is largely operated by the local residents.
“The areas abutting Thane have become a storage hubs with hundreds of godowns located here due to easy accessibility to ports of Mumbai and Gujarat and proximity to the Mumbai Metropolitan region. Many transport operators have set shop in this area and are operating here considering the good prospects of business,” said Shyam Lohi, deputy regional transport officer at Thane.
Meanwhile, the rising numbers of heavy vehicles is adding to the congestion on highways with activists and local residents suggesting the district administration work on a plan to develop roads in proportion to the number of vehicles registered in a particular area or vice versa.