Battle for BMC: Metro services a boon, road conditions remain abysmal

Overview

K-East ward largely comprises the eastern parts of Andheri, Jogeshwari and Vile Parle, and covers areas such as Marol, Maroshi, Chakala, Gondavali, Gaonthan, Bandrekarwadi, Majhaswadi, Meghwadi, Squatters Colony, Veeravali, Shivneri colony, Vijay nagar, Vamanwadi, Tolani college, Ismail college, Vile Parle Telephone Exchange.

The domestic and international airports also fall within the ward. The important industrial area of Andheri MIDC, and Seepz special economic zone are also under this ward. Due to its commercial spaces and access to the city's domestic and international airports, K-East ward has a high floating population, with 6-7 lakh people visiting each day.

The ward has five metro stations, which are part of Mumbai's first metro rail line, namely Marol Naka, Airport Road, Chakala, Western Express Highway and Andheri. This further adds to the floating population in this ward. The population in the ward belongs in diverse income groups, including slum dwellers. However, over the past few years, the higher income group has expanded in areas like Andheri and Vile Parle, with new constructions coming up every year.

However, the ward lags behind on basic infrastructure like roads, pavements, drains and water supply. Although, the ward has five metro stations, the area along it is not developed. Roads are in a sorry state with potholes, poor speed breakers, loosened divider and open drains. In many areas of the ward, specially Chakala, JB Nagar, Marol, Maroshi, Airport Road, getting stuck in traffic is a daily affair for motorists.

Political scenario

Shiv Sena has been dominant in the K-East ward. In the last civic elections in 2012, the Sena won eight out of 15 seats in the ward. BJP has a one corporator in the ward, while MNS has two corporators. There are three Congress corporators in this ward and an independent corporator as well.

The two MPs here are Gajanan Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena who represents Mumbai North West constituency and Poonam Mahajan from BJP from Mumbai North Central. The members of the Legislative Assembly are Ravindra Waikar and Ramesh Latke, both from the Shiv Sena, and Parag Alavani from the BJP.

ISSUES

1. The condition of roads is very poor. The MMRDA had dug up roads to carry out Metro work. However, even after the metro is operational, the condition of the roads along it has not improved. The roads witness traffic jams on a daily basis.
    
2. The uneven roads, loosened paver blocks, unspecified height of speed breakers and dividers falling apart is the condition of some of the unkept roads. This adds to slow traffic movement, residents complain.
    
3. The ward has sufficient open spaces but they have been encroached upon. Some open spaces are encroached by slums, cell phone towers, clubs and swimming pool the activists say.
    
4. Hawkers are another big issue in the ward. Majority of the roads are encroached by hawkers which causes inconvenience to pedestrians as well as motorists.

Residents speak

Many roads in the ward are shoddy despite of BMC carrying out repair work. For instance, recently the Marol military road was renewed but the cement concrete has failed already. In some parts, the construction of drainage lines leads to water logging. The chamber covers are also not anchored in place. The Bharatvan garden has been maintained by the citizens from the last 13-14 years. The civic body has given part of the garden to cell phone tower. The beautiful garden should not have been encroached.
—Biju Augustine, Activist

There is not much scope to widen the roads in the ward. However, if the roads are maintained well, the traffic movement can be easy. The potholes are covered unevenly and the height of speed breakers is not constant. A small patch which can be crossed in seconds takes minutes due to the poor condition of roads. The drainage water from the metro station spills on the roads. The drains are not cleaned on a regular basis and leading to a foul stench.
—James John, Activist

The official word

Devendrakumar Jain, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, said, "We conduct regular raids to avoid hawking. But concrete actions can be taken only after the town planning comes up with a hawking policy. The roads in the ward need to be developed. The roads department has handed over the contract and the work is expected to start soon. The roads along the five metro stations in the ward were damaged during the construction of metro, but in the new contract it will be renewed." However, the officer refused that the drainage lines were constructed unevenly. "The open spaces are not encroached," he added.