BMC action gets a thumbs up from Minara Masjid locals

Residents of Memonwada Road in Bhendi Bazar have come forward to end the misery caused by mushrooming hawkers in the South Mumbai area. Last month, the people also came out in support of the steps taken by the civic body to remove the illegal shops coming up in Minara Masjid area.

The B-ward (Bhendi Bazar, Mohhamad Ali Road) of BMC had razed around 25 illegal shops near Minara Masjid. The shops were encroaching on the road that even prevented fire engines to enter the area.  Udaykumar Shiroorkar, assistant commissioner of B-ward, said: “The fire could have claimed hundreds of lives in the building. Residents were jumping off the building after a fire broke,” said Shiroorkar. After the BMC took action against illegal shops, local politicians staged a protest.

Residents say that BMC had then swiftly reacted and controlled the fire. However, now the encroachment is dense. Siraj Khan, president of Jamait Ulama-E-Mumbai, who stays in Memonwada Road, said the locals are very happy with the civic body’s action. “It becomes very difficult to even walk due to illegal shops mushrooming on the footpath and the roads,” said Khan.