DNA Rain Check: Here's why BMC won't repair Chembur's Chheda Nagar roads

Monsoon is round the bin. Yet, around 2,000 residents of Chheda Nagar in Chembur (west) are fighting for basic amenities like road and footpath. Most of the roads and footpath there are in pathetic condition, and residents have no other option but to suffer again this monsoon.

The reason? The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has denied to carry out any road repair work independently as the area is a private land and the civic body does not provide basic amenities in such areas.

With monsoons being expected in a week or so, the local MLA has emerged as a saviour for them, as he began some road repairing works near a community temple. But this is not sufficient, as roads across Chheda Nagar are in dire need of maintenance.

According to the residents, there is no clarity on the ownership of the land, where 63 cooperative housing societies were constructed. "There is a litigation between the developer and the state government over the title of the land," said a resident. He added, once we get clarity on the ownership of the land, the concerned authority can do some basic work.

Dr Vijay Sangole, one of the residents of Chheda Nagar, said that they have discussed the problem with the BMC ward office, but have not received any solution.

Residents say that the estimated cost of repairing of all the roads will be around Rs 18 crore. "The civic body is ready to fund two-third of the amount. However, the residents have been asked to pay Rs 6 crore," said another resident, Kiron Pillai.

Pillai added that for any basic amenity like road repair or maintaning a water pipeline in the area, they need to bring both BMC and an MLA or an MP together to fund the project. "The BMC says that it will fund only two-third amount of the work, while we have to manage one third from a local MLA or MP," he said. "Even the local MLA and MP have certain limitations; they cannot exhaust all their funds in one area," Pillai added.