If pedestrians could fly!

Flying cars, and pedestrians who can fly too, may soon become a reality in Colaba given the DP (Disaster Plan) in the offing and the new hawking zone policy. This (s)hawking drama suggests a dangerous liaison between the hawkers and the bureaucrats who are leaving no stone unturned to avoid the ‘NH2B’ or the ‘No Hawker Hafta Bandh’ syndrome.

The state of affairs

As filth, dirt and plastic bags are being strewn everywhere, H1N1 does not hold any significance vis-à-vis the NH2B syndrome. NH2B will be a terminator for the careers of many in bureaucracy. The peace-loving citizens of Colaba, who are the verge of isolation, are the sacrificial lambs in this plot of betrayal—con them, hurt them and even kill them seems to be the order of the day. A few walkable pavements have been replaced by paver blocks, making it impossible to walk without risking one’s limbs and the remaining ones are encroached by hawkers—some supposedly legal, as they continue to pay lagaan, and many, who are illegal and continue to pay double or dugna lagaan, mostly to those in power.

The hawkers in Colaba are elitist—if you dare photograph them or question them, you stand the risk of molestation charges being filed against yourself or you could be warned by those who claim to be the upholders of law. Colaba, which was the tourism hub of the commercial capital of India until 26/11 happened, continues to be a haven for drug peddlers, law breakers, aspiring gang lords who encroach empty spaces to hand them over to illegal immigrants, most of whom hail from areas that lie beyond the boundaries of the country.

Present-day scenario

This potboiler in Colaba includes a mix of illegal immigrants, aspiring terrorists, drug peddlers, the good cop and several not-so-good cops. It is a recipe for disaster, contrary to the spectacle unfolding across the globe through the extensive Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and ‘Make In India’ slogans. On one hand, a few with noble intentions want tourism to thrive and grow in India through innovative campaigns via social media. On the other hand, a gang rape in Colaba happens in broad daylight as footpaths that are meant for walking are being encroached rampantly under the eyes of those who comprise the “vending” committees, resulting in a scenario that only hopes that pedestrians grow wings to fly.

Here are a few questions posed to the vested individuals who are aiming to make Mumbai (starting with Colaba) into the hawking capital of the world:

1. If pavements are meant for hawking, where will people walk?

2. Why not think about having a hawking plaza rather than encroaching pedestrian spaces that result in congested roads and traffic jams?

3. If the percentage of hawkers needs to be 2.5 per cent of the population of the city, what measures have the authorities taken to expand the walking spaces for pedestrians? If no measures have been taken, should there not be a review to reduce that percentage from 2.5 to zero? It is common logic that with an increasing population, we will need more green spaces, pedestrian zones and open areas.

4. If the present hawking spaces cannot be monitored or controlled by the authorities, the new policy will lead to a law-and-order breakdown. Who will take responsibility for the resulting disaster?

For a Clean Colaba and a Swachh Bharat, the spaces have to be free of congestion; else, we are heading for disaster where only a vested few will benefit, leading to catastrophic consequences.

There have been massive protests against the proposed hawking zones as residents claim that they are politically motivated.