Victorias to ply on streets of Mumbai once again

MUMBAI: Mumbaikars can enjoy rides in ‘Victoria’ very soon as the State government has decided to restart the iconic Victoria carriages in the city. But instead of horses, these will run on batteries. 

The carriages were banned four years ago due to animal cruelty. This initiative will also be rolled out in other cities with high tourist footfall like Pune and Aurangabad. 

In June 2015, the High Court directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to stop plying of Victoria buggies, as they were ‘illegal and in violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act’. The court directed the State to come up with a policy to rehabilitate people and horses affected by the ban. The government has now decided to rehabilitate the operators with battery-run vehicles. 

The State Transport Department cleared a proposal to allow battery-operated Victoria carriages to run in Mumbai and other cities. In the first phase, 40 such carriages will ply in Mumbai.

They will run on  routes near Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Nariman Point, and Girgaum Chowpatty. Later on, they will be allowed in other cities.  The vehicle will be allowed to carry six passengers, excluding the operator and will have to obtain the proper licence and permit from the Transport Department.  Local Transport Authority will have to decide the vehicle’s colour and uniform for the operator. Each vehicle has to have a Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) for passengers’ safety.  

A senior Transport Department official said, “The proposal was passed by the home department and a Government Resolution (GR) for the same has been passed. Now the task is to train the drivers of the old Victoria horse carriages. By giving licences to the old carriage riders, we will also be able to rehabilitate them.” 

The fare for the rides is yet to be fixed. The battery-operated carriages will run at a maximum speed of 20 km per hour and are ideal for joyrides in tourist spots. The carriages will be manufactured by Ubo Ridez and will be fitted with GPS and speakers that will give information about Mumbai’s history. The whole project is being managed by a joint venture, UBO Ridez, by entrepreneur Ketan Kadam and actor/model Dino Morea. These buggies, or e-carriages, will be powered by 60 volts lithium-ion batteries.