Mumbai Central locals plead to restore paths to pedestrians

Mumbai Central, an old quarter of the city, has during the last few years experienced a huge population influx.

While residents are proud of the history of the area, but they are unhappy with the BMC's treatment of the area. The area is home to the Babasaheb Gawbe Institute of Management Studies as well as the famous Maratha Mandir cinema hall.

There is a crossroad just outside the Mumbai Central railway station. The four roads are Belasis Road, Jahagir Boman Behram Road, Dr Anand Rao Nair Road and Dr DB Marg. The junction of these several roads makes it a heavy vehicle corridor.

Motorists frequently experience traffic jams area and they have also complained about non-functional traffic signals. 

Residents also grouse that the civic administration is not efficient in maintaining cleanliness in the area, as a result of which piles of garbage are left unattended for days. Footpaths have been occupied by illegal stalls and encroachments.

TRAFFIC

Since the area is a heavy vehicle corridor, there is a lot of motor traffic. But residents feel that despite broad roads, the traffic police are unable to ease the congestion
Irfan Khan says, “Even though the thoroughfare is broad, crossing the road is difficult. This is because motorists randomly park their vehicles on the road.”

Govind Singh says, “Signals rarely function properly. Sometimes even the traffic police are not present to direct the movement of pedestrians and vehicles. Since many  board outstation trains leave from the Mumbai Central terminus, there must be better traffic management.”

Kinjal Jain says, “Due to huge traffic in the peak morning and evening hours, I don't allow my children to ride bicycles or even play in the streets. Our area is encroached by hawkers and small stalls.”

CIVIC AMENITIES

Residents feel there is total lack of civic conveniences like encroachment-free footpaths, recreation spaces and parking infrastructure
Neelima Ghadge says, “I don't feel safe while crossing the road. Even if we have zebra crossings at the crossroads, motorists don't respect the pedestrians. They always bring vehicles and halt beyond the stop line. And pedestrians walks have been taken over by encroachments.”

Sanjay Patel says, “While the population of the area is growing, amenities aren't growing commensurately. We don't have a single park near Navjeevan society where children or senior citizens can walk.” 

Nelcy Jain says, “I travel to Mumbai Central everyday to my office. It is very difficult to walk along the road. The BMC must act against the stalls and restore the walkways to pedestrians.”

GOVERNANCE

Residents grouse that the area is being neglected and the BMC is concentrating on the more affluent areas of South Mumbai
Yogesh Tungare says, “Garbage is scattered everywhere in the area and stagnant filthy water is overflowing on the road. The BMC must increase the clean-up drive in the area. Given the increasing construction of buildings and apartments blocks, the administration must have a solution to the dumping of debris.”

Nirav Dilip says, “I live close to the Maratha Mandir theatre and this side of the road lacks a continuous footpath for walking. There are no proper parking places for vehicles.”  

Pervej Khan says, “The civic administration must have the will to remove encroachments from the footpath. They must finish the road trenching activity within a stipulated period of time. They must restore us our civic amenities.”