Bandra locals protest against road widening

The residents of St Martin’s Road in Bandra (West), who protested outside the H (West) ward office against the civic body’s move to demolish their compound walls for road widening, have alleged that BMC is widening the road to accommodate redevelopment of some buildings which have tie-ups with local politicians. Around 70 residents gathered to protest outside the H (West) ward office on Monday. 

The BMC has sent notices to the residents regarding the demolition work. But the residents have been saying that there is no traffic congestion on the road to widen it.

“The civic body has proposed road widening to facilitate the three plots which are under redevelopment and their builders have political tie-ups,” said Floyd Almeida.    

Another resident said that the congestion on the two parallel arterial roads — Hill Road and Turner Road — is primarily due to unauthorised hawkers. “Widening of our road will have no bearing on congestion,” he said.        

Priya Dutt, MP, who came to hear the residents, said the traffic issue needs to be addressed first.

“With so much development it is important that before the road widening we have to look at how to regulate the traffic. We want a meeting with elected representatives, citizens, the traffic department and civic officials,” said Dutt.  

However, civic officials said that the setback area needs to be taken to widen the road. “We are taking the setback area keeping in mind the requirement of next 20 years. We have also asked the crime branch unit to surrender the setback as required. The police officials are not happy, but we are going ahead with it,” said a senior civic official.