Mumbai: The citizens of Bandra, Khar, Santacruz and Juhu have intensified their protest against the Bollywood-themed installations below the under-construction Metro 2B line by starting an online signature campaign, which demands the cancellation of the installations on an immediate basis. The online campaign has received around 300 endorsements in two days and protestors have decided to expand the campaign across Mumbai.
On December 2, the Free Press Journal reported that the citizens of Bandra West are strongly opposing such themes from the Bandra to Juhu stretch. Some of the metallic ode to Bollywood installations are already erected on the busy S V Road, which the locals call ghastly, an eyesore and a project to please a contractor. Instead, the citizens demand that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) plant shrubs to beautify the Metro corridors, which will be soothing to the eyes and increase greenery.
Naazish Shah, a citizen activist from Bandra, who is at the forefront of this campaign, said, “How is metallic installations beautification? We are throbbing full of city life and hardly have any peaceful spots. Driving is another nightmare and metallic installations along the way add to mental stress. Instead, the authorities should spend that money on planting shrubs, the greens and flowers will be soothing at least.”
The FPJ tried calling the MMRDA’s project officer and executive engineer, but the calls went unanswered. However, another senior official responded that the citizens’ campaign is politically motivated, and the authority has undertaken the project to beautify Metro corridors, following all rules.
Former local Congress corporator Asif Zakaria had flagged the matter recently saying that the MMRDA has planned to erect the Bollywood-theme installations on S V Road under a whooping Rs350 crore project, without calling tenders or expression of interest. “It is nothing but wasteful expenditure of taxpayers money,” Zakaria said.
