Despite a demand from Sada Sarvankar, Shiv Sena legislator from Dadar and Trushna Vishwasrao, the Sena's Leader in the BMC and a host of local Sena office bearers, Mehta has decided to retain the road as part of the model footpath plan.
In a setback of sorts for the Shiv Sena in its own bastion, the BMC rejected the party's demand to stop taking action on hawkers on Dadar's Ranade Road. The road is one of the 24 across the city, picked by the BMC for municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta's model footpath scheme. The move has come as good news for local residents, who are backing the BMC in taking on illegal hawkers.
Despite a demand from Sada Sarvankar, Shiv Sena legislator from Dadar and Trushna Vishwasrao, the Sena's Leader in the BMC and a host of local Sena office bearers, Mehta has decided to retain the road as part of the model footpath plan. This means that the BMC will continue to take action against illegal hawkers who block roads, leaving no pace for motorists and pedestrians.
Sarvankar and Vishwarao met Mehta on Tuesday evening and demanded that Ranade Road be excluded from the list. However, Mehta known to be a tough task master did not budge. Hawkers who owe their allegiance to the Shiv Sena had requested the civic body to take a footpath in the Kabutarkhana area instead for this initiative. "Ranade Road will continue to be part of the model footpath plan," Mehta told dna.
"Hawkers have been doing business on Ranade Road and the adjoining NC Kelkar Marg for the past 50 years. The BMC started taking action against them since July. It took away their wares and even demolished their stalls. They have no other livelihood," said Vishwasrao, who had written to Mehta, batting for the hawkers.
The model footpath idea was mooted by Mehta, who has asked local assistant municipal commissioners to pick one road in each ward and clear it of illegal hawkers, encroachments and unauthorised construction. Plan is to clear the 24 most congested and hawker-filled footpaths in the city and make them easier for pedestrians to navigate. In the G-North ward which covers Dadar and Mahim (West), the BMC has picked the busy Ranade Road that connects Chaityabhoomi near Shivaji Park to the Dadar (West) railway station.
"This is the busiest road in the area. There is maximum footfall and that was the reason why we had chosen it in the first place. July onwards, we have taken stern action against all illegal hawkers. Hawkers had virtually taken over the road and the footpath. Now, pedestrians can comfortably," said Sharad Ughade, assistant municipal commissioner, G-North Ward.
Interestingly, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Sena's arch rival has backed the BMC's plan. "We are with the BMC in their action against illegal hawkers but the BMC must not slow down the action. It's a great plan since it gives relief to lakhs of residents and commuters. The local ward office has done a great job so far and it should continue. Illegal hawkers must be removed," said Sandeep Deshpande, MNS group leader in the BMC.
Sarvankar did not respond to calls and text messages.
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