Top 5 problems of Mumbai's tourist hub Colaba

Colaba, being the tourist hub of Mumbai, sees thousands of visitors on a daily basis. No visit to Mumbai is complete without seeing the Gateway of India and the waterfront of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. With the constant flow of tourists and the indifference shown by authorities, Colaba has been facing problems that need to be addressed by the BMC, police, traffic department and the respective MLA and MP.

With restaurants, bars and cafés mushrooming in the area, double parking and traf?c violations have become the norm. All of this result in massive traf?c jams on BEST Marg leading to air and noise pollution, which are not only detrimental to the residents but also to the heritage properties. Drivers of parked vehicles, at times, leave the engines idling, causing air pollution. Signages are either missing or are removed by miscreants.

The population of beggars, vagrants and drug peddlers has multiplied in the last few months. They hound the tourists, defecate near the walls and ruin the heritage structures as authorities busy themselves with VIP movements or some such activity. The arches of Jenkins House, Henry Road and Ramchandani Marg have not only become drug dens but also double up as open toilets.

There is a designated hawking zone on Shahid Bhagat Singh Road and hawkers are supposed to operate within the con?nes of the pavement. However, illegal hawking has led to encroachment on Henry Road, J. A. Allana Marg, leading from Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. These hawkers not only cause traf?c jams but also generate ?lth.

Quite often, Victorias operate beyond the designated areas and timings, vehicles are double parked with their drivers missing and narrow streets are encroached by hawkers and beggars. During any emergency, a ?re brigade or ambulance will ?nd it dif?cult to address an SOS situation. The lawlessness has turned the area into a sitting duck.

The paver blocks are a nuisance and have led to many injuries in case of women, children and senior citizens. Apart from the encroachment on pavements and roads, poor street lighting has encouraged illegal activities. Due to the indifference shown by the authorities, Colaba is now the ?lthiest and most unfriendly place; one where you will ?nd absolute lawlessness and chaos.