Ask your corporator

Rajesh Deo of D 404 Marol Hill View writes:

I am a resident of Marol Hill View Society, Military Road, Marol. Near our society gate there is a BEST stop (Route Nos. 443 and 446). But for the last couple of years one wonders whether it is a bus stop or a public toilet. Children defecate on the road. We already have a huge mosquito problem. We hope that in the near future some action will be taken.

Another problem concerns traffic. Senior citizens in the area find it very difficult to walk on Marol-Maroshi Road, especially from Marol village to Marol-Maroshi depot. Many autos, courier vans and some private vehicles try to overtake from the left and citizens walking on the road are scared out of their wits. Request boards are of no use. We have to do something about this immediately. We cannot just complain to the RTO. Can't we do something? We can even take up a "Clean Marol" drive with the help of local schools, sponsored by local industries, banks and shops. I am confident that through the medium of In and Around Mumbai 59, we will get a good response for such a drive.

Incidentally, the municipal corporation has promised to remove garbage within 24 hours if we complain at Tel No. 6182256 or Fax: 6123266.

M.J. Hegde, corporator for Marol, answers:

I appreciate the points raised by Shri Deo. His letter is essentially about two issues: defecating on the roads and traffic hazards. Unfortunately, both issues fall under the jurisdiction of the police and the RTO. I admit that the municipal corporation can take action under the provisions of acting against "nuisance". However, there is no machinery for the said job. You will appreciate that similar scenes (of defecation) can be seen on the pipelines which supply water to the city. There too the municipal corporation is not taking any action. Anyhow, I will take up this issue with the police as well as the RTO.

Mrs M.E. Fernandes, 7/4 Blossom Co-op Hsg Society, writes:
The deteriorating state of Marol-Maroshi Road and Military Road has forced me to write to you. Friends I meet on these roads invariably complain about the lack of safety and sanitation and general chaos they have to endure day after day on these roads. No amount of complaining will change the situation unless we act collectively.

Marol-Maroshi Road is the busiest road this side of Marol. Seven bus routes start from the bus station here. Moreover, bus routes 398, 341, 443 and 446 also ply on this road. Then there are heavy-duty vehicles such as tankers, lorries, private buses, cars, taxis and rickshaws, motorbikes and scooters, bicycles and handcarts. With such a heavy load where is the space for pedestrians to walk on this road or, for that matter, on Military Road and other narrow roads in Marol?

Most of the day lorries are parked on the stretch of Military Road just after the intersection with Marol-Maroshi Road and are being loaded with goods from the adjoining shops [although it is a no-parking zone -- Editor]. This causes traffic jams and a dangerous situation for pedestrians. From this intersection right up to St Vincent Palotti Church and even further, Marol-Maroshi Road is encroached by unauthorised stalls and hawkers. Lorries and private buses are parked even at the bus stops.

With the support of all residents we can transform our roads by taking a few simple steps: 1. Request the BMC to remove all debris lying on the roads and to shift all stall owners and hawkers to a suitable location. Then the roads can be widened and tarred afresh.
2. If the open drains, which are a breeding ground for mosquitoes, are covered, there will bs space to provide footpaths for pedestrians.
3. Shopkeepers and residents in buildings abutting the roads, can keep their surroundings clean and plant trees and shrubs.
4. Fines for unauthorised parking on the roads, and provision of parking place for taxis and autos.

Hegde's reply:

I appreciate the sentiments expressed by Mrs Maria E. Fernandes. As per her suggestion, if some sort of Mohalla Committees in different areas are organised things would improve. As regards Military Road, the writer will recollect that it was due to my efforts and the efforts of residents of Blossom Society that half of the 60 feet wide development project (D.P) road was taken over by the municipal corporation a few years ago. The stretch from the junction with Marol-Maroshi Road upto Raj Oil Mills was taken over and improved. After repeated requests a storm water drain on one side of this road was provided upto Kunti Park. On the other side this could not be done because the setback has not been taken over or handed over by developers. From Raj Oil Mills onwards the road is yet to be taken over by the municipal corporation. The builders are supposed to hand it over to the municipal corporation after constructing infrastructure. However, they have not done it so far. Also, street lights have been provided and certain improvements to the road carried out although it is not strictly permissible.

As regards the bottleneck I have repeatedly complained to the concerned authority to tow away parked tempos etc at the required junction. I have also requested the RTO to put up a no parking board at the junction. Ultimately the RTO agreed to post a police constable to control the nuisance and did so for some time. However, it appears that they discontinued doing so and I have taken up the issue once again and am confident of doing something in the matter.

I have suggested that Marol-Maroshi Road be concreted from the junction with Military Road upto Aarey Colony; the proposal is pending. In 1979 the BMC issued a notice to take over setback land but the matter is pending because of litigation.

There was a proposal to create a hawking zone near Bhawani Nagar. However, it has not been implemented. Hawkers have been removed on several occasions but they encroach right after their removal.

The Rotary Club of Mumbai is likely to take up the development of the recreational garden plot near Kunti Park on Military Road. However, they are in search of sponsors to maintain it every year. The project is likely to be implemented shortly.