24 Aug 2023, 10:33 am
On Wednesday morning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) finally addressed a long-standing concern by clearing a pathway for auto-rickshaws outside Bandra East railway station. The removal of certain structures had become imperative as they were obstructing the path, causing inconvenience for vehicles.
Interestingly, the bulldozed structures were relatively new, having been erected just two to three months ago. Local residents pointed out the ongoing confusion over land ownership between the BMC and Railway authorities, resulting in residents bearing the brunt. Expressing dissatisfaction, a resident revealed that although promises were made to provide 175 accommodations to facilitate relocation, only 35 were actually delivered.
Sandeep Kadam, a regular commuter, emphasized the necessity of the action taken by BMC, urging that it should have been executed much earlier. He highlighted the unevenness of the path and called for the civic body to construct a proper road in the area.
The BMC periodically takes action against encroachments, as seen in their recent clearance of a site near the Indian Oil building, adjacent to a demolished skywalk. Notably, a few years back, a major fire broke out following a demolition drive by the civic body in the same area, leading to disruptions in train services on the Harbour Line.
Despite attempts to seek information, civic officials remained unresponsive to queries regarding the action carried out on Wednesday.