Cricket legend and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar, who has received criticism in the past for poor attendance in the Upper House and has been accused of being a passive parliamentarian, had on August 28 written to the Mumbai Suburban District Collector putting forth suggestions on a wide range of issues. He had urged the Collector to consider them while drafting the Mumbai Suburban District Plan 2025 — a blueprint for development of the district till 2025.
In a five-page letter, Tendulkar put forth suggestions on issues such as hawker zones, safety and security of Railways, public transport, public parking, solid waste management, water supply, water transport and open spaces for children, among others.
In the letter written to Deependra Singh Kushwaha, Tendulkar had said, "A dedicated Hawker Zone/ Food Zone will help clear pedestrian area in and around railway stations and on skywalks."
"Pedestrians should be directed to take pavements or skywalks where constructed and not walk between traffic in at station roads," He added.
Tendulkar added, "Vacant spaces can be utilised in every suburb for creation of weekly markets with clear markings on space and temporary/ permanent hawker zones." He also stressed on having connectivity via water transport services to cut down road congestion and help boost tourism in the city.
In the letter, written a month before the Elphinstone Road stampede in which 23 people died, Tendulkar also wrote about providing safety and security for railway commuters. "There are platforms where there is a wide gap between the train and the platform, and at some places, the edges of the platform have worn out creating dangerous situations for alighting commuters. It is time that not only this city, but the country as a whole, makes safety and security its utmost priority."
He had drawn on Hong Kong, New York and Singapore as examples for dedicated water transport systems. "I have read recent reports of linking various ferry points such as Gorai/Andheri. It will provide and alternative for people away from trains and roads – for example, Gorai can also operate to South Mumbai with vehicles on board the ferry, cutting short a three-hour drive."
Creating green spaces was also on the agenda. "Restoration of green spaces where families can sit and cook together will help create community settings in the city. We must also encourage the construction of green buildings which are self-sufficient in terms of generation of electricity and depend minimally on the grid for supply."
Other issues on which Tendulkar focused were rainwater harvesting, cleaning of rivers and water tributaries and security of road infrastructure and traffic management.
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