Latest news with #SantoshDaundkar
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Mumbai: Notices issues to tenants to remove illegal extensions
MUMBAI : After a 35-year-old woman lost her life and another was injured following the collapse of a portion of an unauthorised structural extension of a rehabilitated tenement (RT) building at Byculla (W), the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board is issuing warning notices to tenants of such buildings in the city to remove unauthorised extensions. Unauthorised structural extensions have been made by many tenants of such buildings. On May 28, a portion of unauthorised structural extensions, protruding beyond the original building line on the fifth floor, which were carried out by tenants of the building, collapsed. Following the incident, officials of the repair and reconstruction board visited the site and instructed tenants to remove unauthorised extensions. The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board is now issuing warning notices to tenants in reconstructed RT buildings in its jurisdiction. "The reconstructed tenement buildings were built between 1980 and 1990 after Mhada acquired rights to the buildings, which became dangerous and reconstructed these buildings. The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board carries out regular maintenance of these buildings. There are 388 buildings across the city, but unauthorised extensions have been carried out over the last 10 to 15 years, and some of the buildings are very old. This particular building, which has 193 residential rooms and 11 non-residential rooms, is also very old. We are issuing notices to tenants of these buildings to remove the unauthorised extensions," said a Mhada official. "Residents carry out these unauthorised extensions as they are hamstrung due to the small size of their rooms. But while carrying out these extensions, they do not take adequate precautions," said a Mhada official. Activist Santosh Daundkar said, " BMC has a dedicated Building and Factory department, which has a designated officer for carrying out action, including removal of unauthorised construction under the MMC Act, and they carry out action accordingly. Mhada also has officials to carry out such action, but they don't carry out any action as required. They only initiate action when an incident occurs. Mhada is lackadaisical when it comes to action against unauthorised construction. It has to be alert and take systemic action against unauthorised construction."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Notices to bldg tenants to remove illegal extensions
Mumbai: After a 35-year-old woman lost her life and another was injured following the collapse of a portion of an unauthorised structural extension of a rehabilitated tenement (RT) building at Byculla (W), the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board is issuing warning notices to tenants of such buildings in the city to remove unauthorised extensions. Unauthorised structural extensions have been made by many tenants of such buildings. On May 28, a portion of unauthorised structural extensions, protruding beyond the original building line on the fifth floor, which were carried out by tenants of the building, collapsed. Following the incident, officials of the repair and reconstruction board visited the site and instructed tenants to remove unauthorised extensions. The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board is now issuing warning notices to tenants in reconstructed RT buildings in its jurisdiction. "The reconstructed tenement buildings were built between 1980 and 1990 after Mhada acquired rights to the buildings, which became dangerous and reconstructed these buildings. The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board carries out regular maintenance of these buildings. There are 388 buildings across the city, but unauthorised extensions have been carried out over the last 10 to 15 years, and some of the buildings are very old. This particular building, which has 193 residential rooms and 11 non-residential rooms, is also very old. We are issuing notices to tenants of these buildings to remove the unauthorised extensions," said a Mhada official. "Residents carry out these unauthorised extensions as they are hamstrung due to the small size of their rooms. But while carrying out these extensions, they do not take adequate precautions," said a Mhada official. Activist Santosh Daundkar said, "BMC has a dedicated Building and Factory department, which has a designated officer for carrying out action, including removal of unauthorised construction under the MMC Act, and they carry out action accordingly. Mhada also has officials to carry out such action, but they don't carry out any action as required. They only initiate action when an incident occurs. Mhada is lackadaisical when it comes to action against unauthorised construction. It has to be alert and take systemic action against unauthorised construction."
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
BMC permits free parking at 24 locations in A ward
MUMBAI: Following a sting operation that exposed a parking racket in the Kala Ghoda area and whistleblower complaints regarding the mafia controlling nearly 60% of the pay-and-park facilities across the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided not to renew contracts with 24 private parking contractors in the A ward, which covers key areas in south Mumbai. Instead, the civic body will allow free parking in at least 10 of the 24 locations in the ward once existing parking contracts expire. The move is aimed at restoring public trust and curbing the rampant practice of parking operators charging exorbitant fees or collecting money without authorisation. Among the areas where parking has been made free are Jamnalal Bajaj lane, where the contract expired on May 24, and the area around Eros Cinema, where the contract will expire on May 31. No charges will be payable for parking at eight other locations in the island city once contracts expire on May 31, said an official from the A ward. 'We are initiating spot quotations to appoint new contractors for all 24 locations. Till the tender process is completed, parking at these locations will remain free of cost,' said the A ward official. The A ward, a heritage and tourism hotspot, sees high vehicular traffic due to the presence of many government offices, commercial hubs, and cultural sites. Sources in the civic body said the free parking provision would be a temporary measure while the BMC revisits the pay-and-park policy framework and introduces stricter transparency and accountability measures. The civic body will deploy its own staff at all 24 locations to oversee parking operations and assist motorists, the sources said. The BMC is also taking strict disciplinary action against those involved in the parking racket. The parking contractor at Kala Ghoda – who was found overcharging motorists and allowing parking in no parking zones during a BMC-led sting operation – has been booked under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. A proposal has also been sent to the traffic department to blacklist the contractor. A hearing will be conducted soon to determine the tenure of blacklisting – spanning three to five years – depending on the tender conditions, said sources. Former BJP corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar, had last week demanded that all illegal pay-and-park contracts be cancelled and parking be made free until the fresh tendering process was completed. The workings of the parking mafia came to light on April 25, when activist Santosh Daundkar raised the matter, detailing how parking contractors, some with alleged criminal backgrounds, operated a coordinated racket spanning A ward to T ward. The BMC is also cracking down on officials with alleged connections to the parking mafia. On April 17, assistant engineer Pawan Kawre from A ward was suspended pending a preliminary inquiry into his alleged role in mismanaging parking contracts under his jurisdiction.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Unmasked: Mumbai's parking mafia controls 60% of parking contracts
MUMBAI: A recent sting operation, which exposed corrupt practices at the pay-and-park facility at Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai, has uncovered a parking mafia that extends across a number of civic wards in the city. According to the whistleblower, whose information prompted the undercover operation, an astonishing 60-70% of parking contracts under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are controlled by a single individual. The operation that uncovered these alarming details was carried out at the parking facility outside the Jehangir Art Gallery. The attendant here attempted to overcharge senior civic officials who turned up incognito, and attempted to park their vehicles at the facility. The BMC, which recently lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the pay-and-park contractor, discovered rampant overcharging and illegal parking in designated no-parking zones after activist Santosh Daundkar first raised the alarm on April 25. From 'A' ward to 'T' ward, Daundkar has detailed how these contractors, some with alleged criminal records, operate as a coordinated mafia, systematically exploiting the city's parking system with impunity. Daundkar, in his complaint letter dated April 25, 2025, to the BMC, stated, 'This dominance isn't the result of fair competition or efficiency. Rather, it's a product of systemic corruption, supported by middlemen, complicit civic officials, and elected representatives, all working together in a deeply entrenched racket that has plagued the city for years.' The letter adds, 'Key sites like Kala Ghoda, Jehangir Art Gallery and Gateway of India are governed by dubious contracts categorized under 'A' and 'B'. At these locations, parking attendants, often with criminal backgrounds, collect fees using handheld machines. However, the receipts they issue mention only the time of entry or exit, not the duration parked, making it easier to overcharge unsuspecting motorists. 'Moreover, these contractors deliberately avoid displaying BMC-mandated parking rate boards. They permit double-parking and exceed vehicle limits, leading to daily traffic jams and chaos in congested areas like Kala Ghoda. In several instances, car owners are even forced to surrender their keys, an outright violation of BMC norms. Yet, civic officials and police rarely intervene.' Daundkar said that individuals who dare question the overcharging or the absence of receipts are subjected to verbal abuse and threats. 'Organised commotion is often created to silence dissent. This creates not only a law-and-order concern but also subjects citizens to psychological harassment.' A striking example took place on April 19, near Rhythm House at Kala Ghoda. Despite a clear 'No Parking' sign, the contractor stationed vehicles and collected parking fees openly—indicative of the police's passive role in enabling these violations. Explaining the parking mafia's modus operandi, the whistleblower said the contractor consistently bids the highest amount during online tenders. 'Once contracts are awarded, they often file for arbitration to halt operations, citing lower ward-level rates. They then collude with ward officials to extend contracts, altogether skirting the tendering process. Even when parking contracts held by women's self-help groups expire, the mafia exploits proximity clauses to usurp adjacent spaces. These applications are swiftly approved by ward engineers. Shockingly, even if these illegal tenders are cancelled, the contractors receive their earnest money deposits (EMD) back, ensuring zero financial risk for them,' Daundkar told HT. A civic official from 'A' ward, who led the sting operation at Kala Ghoda, revealed that 45 contractors were operating in this ward. 'We registered FIRs at Jehangir Art Gallery and PB Gandhi Marg, where the agency operating was Yuva Berozgar Sahakari Sanstha Ltd. We've begun action against the others for violations such as not wearing uniforms and not displaying rate cards. A common complaint from citizens was overcharging—contractors were collecting ₹150 instead of the official ₹70,' the official said. As part of the operation, three private cars were used, and women junior engineers from the ward went undercover, wearing scarves and backpacks to avoid being recognised by the attendants, who were familiar with civic officials. Deputy municipal commissioner, Zone 1, Sangita Hasnale, also took part. She parked her car near the Bombay High Court and went incognito to observe the situation, first-hand. 'They were mostly parking vehicles in non-designated areas, where no official parking boards were displayed. In fact, in three lanes, 'No Parking' signs were deliberately covered. The attendants weren't part of our approved list. We've penalised several for these violations but have registered an FIR under Section 420 of the IPC at the MRA Marg police station, against one contractor so far,' Hasnale said.
