7 days ago
Restore right to walk or face the law, Juhu residents warn BMC
Mumbai: Residents of the Gulmohar Area Societies Welfare Group, an advanced locality management (ALM) in Juhu, have accused the BMC of turning their neighbourhood into a "no-walk zone".
They cite unchecked encroachments, solid waste lying on the road, debris piling on footpaths, illegal ramps built by high-rises on public footpaths, and unauthorised parking.
In a meeting held with the assistant municipal commissioner of K West Ward, Chakrapani Alle, on August 1, facilitated by local MLA Ameet Satam (BJP), the ALM members said that despite repeated complaints, footpaths remain blocked. This makes even short walks, such as from homes to nearby parks, difficult and unsafe.
Architect Samarth Das documented the issues through a series of photographs, which the ALM presented to the BMC during their meeting on Friday.
He said, "If an area like Juhu can't ensure walkability, what hope do other parts of the city have? We have given the BMC a one-month deadline to take visible steps to restore pedestrian access. (Otherwise) we will be forced to take legal action."
Ashoke Pandit, chairman of the group, said, "We are not asking for anything extraordinary. As tax-paying citizens, we want the BMC to only fulfil its obligatory duty of ensuring we have unencroached roads. Instead, the situation has become so deplorable that we are seeing garages come up overnight on footpaths."
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What we call 'normal' today has become shockingly substandard, said Das. "Basic quality of life -- sanitation, hygiene, pedestrian safety -- is being completely ignored."
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