Drive against garages, abandoned cars

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to start a drive against roadside garages and cars abandoned on city roads.

Both cause inconvenience to pedestrians, the civic body has said. While abandoned cars block the roads and cannot be moved, mechanics at roadside garages molest women passing by.

“We are going to start a major drive against such vehicles and mechanics across the city soon,” said Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner (encroachment removal).

“If the BMC’s squad finds an abandoned car gathering dust, wheels of the car will be removed,” he said. He also appealed to citizens to inform the civic body about such cars that are causing inconvenience to pedestrians.

“It is high time the corporation started clearing roads of abandoned cars. Not only are these used by unauthorised garages to the fullest extent but they are also a nuisance to residential colonies. Even our conservancy staff finds it difficult to sweep the roads where these cars have been lying for months. They are also used as covers by anti-social elements,” he said.
Last week, the BMC came down heavily on garages in Sion Koliwada after receiving several complaints from residents. The BMC penalised more than 100 garages and collected a total fine of Rs5 lakh from them.

“The BMC has now identified location like Mahim, Dharavi, Khar, Santa Cruz, Versova, Wadala, Sewri and will take action against garages there,” said Rokade.

“About 90% garages in the city are unauthorised. They use abandoned cars as a front. These garages make money on municipal roads but not a single paisa goes into municipal coffers,” said Upendra Doshi, local corporator.