Victoria carriages. File pic

In a bid to rehabilitate Victoria Carriage owners, Maharashtra government has come up with a comprehensive policy, which seeks to offer them hawking
licenses and monetary compensation. According to a government resolution issued by the home department, as means of compensation to the operators and
owners of the horse-drawn buggies, they have been offered hawking licences plus Rs 1 lakh or Rs 3 lakh in compensation, if they do not opt for the license.

The GR has also directed for the horses to be given shelter in Mumbai. "Buggy owners can sell their horses or hand them over to NGOs working for animal welfare, if they find it more feasible," it states. "Those owning more than one horse cart can avail the compensation in the name of another person designated by them," it added. The rehabilitation package is likely to cost the government anywhere between Rs 2.21 crore to 6.63 crore depending on the options the horse cart owners choose.