Mumbai: Housing one of the largest national parks with rich flora and fauna in the city along with the famous Gorai beach, the R central ward (Borivali, Gorai and Dattapada) of the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) has witnessed a rampant rise in illegal hawking and high traffic congestion. The ward officials said that the ward has lack of space to allot a hawking zone.
However, activists allege that officials are renting out the area of municipal market for various functions but can easily accommodate hawkers that will reduce the hawker menace of the ward.
Meera Kamath, a local activist and a candidate for the upcoming BMC polls from ward no. 17, told the Free Press Journal that the ward officials are least bothered towards solving the hawker issue despite having appropriate space for hawkers.
“The ward authorities can easily rehabilitate hawkers at their municipal market area, however, they are more interested in the rent that they receive from the market,” said Kamath.
Borivali, one of the major suburbs after Bandra and Andheri, is filled with illegal hawkers that have added on to the traffic woes of the area. The region around Borivili railway station alone has 900 hawkers that have encroached upon the pavements because of which commuters walk on the road escalating the traffic congestion.
This ward is inhabited with more than 50 percent of slums wherein most of the slum pockets have no sewerage lines and the slum dwellers have to rely on public toilets. This has also given a rise to open defecation in the area.
Officials speak
Kishor Gandhi, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of the R central ward, said, “Slums in Borivili West lack sewerage system. The rise in the slums has added on to the complications to lay down a sewerage line in the area. We will soon make the required changes for proper sanitation in such slum areas.”
While the slum areas deal with lack of access to sanitation, the ward has seen a rise in the number of vehicles in the area.
Corporator speak
Sheetal Mhatre, Sena Corporator and ward chairperson, said, “Since the region has prominent places like Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the famous Gorai beach, there is a high density of vehicles and huge floating population.
Traffic congestion is a major problem of the ward. Also, due to lack of parking space in old housing societies, the residents park their vehicles on the road that have increased traffic congestion roads like SV road and railway station road.”
Residents speak
Sunil More, Borivali resident, said, “Roads that lead to the Western Express Highway have several bottlenecks and illegal encroachment carried out by the shops. Motorists are stuck for hours on such lanes. Also, the civic body has not carried out widening of roads which is an issue that needs immediate attention.”
MAJOR ISSUES
Hawkers Encroachment – This Ward has witnessed a rampant rise in illegal hawking. The residents allege that Borivili railway station alone has 900 hawkers that have encroached upon the pavements.
Traffic congestion – The Ward is reeling under the traffic congestion as the rampant illegal hawking has compelled the public to walk on road instead of footpaths.
Boundaries
East: Sanjay Gandhi National Park
West: Gorai, Kulvem Village
North: (Devidas Lane) N.D.Zone to Link Road from
Devidas lane to N.C. Phadke fly over bridge and
Daulat Nagar, Cemetary Rvier to Nancy Colony 44’-0
wide Road, Chogale Nagar, Borivali(E).
South: Khatao Estate, Bhor Industries 90’-0 wide
D.P.Road ,Railway subway Poisar Depot, 90’-0 Bor
sapada Rd. Mahavir Nagar RDP-4, Charkop upto
Creek.
Area: 50sq.km.
Population: 6,81,377
Municipal Hospitals. 01
