Unchecked Development Leaves Rubble in Paradise

Malls Proliferate As Cottages Vanish, High-Rises Replace Bungalows. Bandra
Confronts A Brave New World

The phrase 'the queen has lost her crown' has become almost synonymous with
Bandra in Mumbai. But seeing as there has been no obvious successor to the
throne of the 'Queen of the Suburbs' one can assume the uneasy monarch still
owns her title, though for how long is a matter of debate as she becomes
plagued by rampant and ad hoc development.

The picture-postcard nature of the city's first western suburb has taken a
mauling as redevelopment schemes tighten their grip along once well-planned
streets and in quaint gaothans.

While development may be essential, long-time residents worry that it may
not be accompanied by the required increase in water, electricity, parking
and other infrastructure. As tall towers shoot up, so do the fears that the
clutter will one day choke what was once known as the best laid-out area in
suburban Mumbai. These problems-seemingly haphazard and unplanned
construction-recur in the other areas of HWest Ward, which include Khar (W)
and a portion of Santa Cruz. Builders' greed, huge carrots dangled before
residents and the official blind eye have combined to create a situation
that may be impossible to reverse.

The scant regard for a proper development plan has resulted in other woes as
the foremost western suburbs become clogged by overcrowding, businesses that
encroach on footpaths and lanes, hawkers taking up public space, and the
resulting narrow roads and traffic snarls.

    The municipality has now begun acting on its roadwidening plan at areas
like 33rd Road, where several illegal structures have been refreshingly
demolished. But controversy arose after some residents complained that some
structures had been spared.

    At Hill Road, residents said similar widening work is a metaphor for
what is wrong in Bandra. Earnest Fernandes, an ALM member from St Andrew's
Road, said the road-widening wasn't properly discussed and is being
carelessly implemented. Several illegal structures and hawkers have not been
removed. On the other hand, structures that have been around for over a
hundred years-the Parsi agiary, St Andrew's Church, St Stanislaus School and
St Peter's Church-were ordered to give up land to the widening. Rankled
residents got the municipality to back off, but the notices issued to the
religious institutions have not yet been officially revoked. Meanwhile, it
remains to be seen if the illegal hawkers and other businesses that crowd
the footpaths and congest Hill Road will vanish postwidening.

    Potholed roads, especially during the monsoon, are another headache.
Anandini Thakur, president of the Khar Residents Association, said things
have improved in the past few years as roads have been strengthened and
drains cleaned, but a lot of work remains to be done. "Illegal structures
keep sprouting and need to be tackled,'' she said.

    The problem of illegal activity by businesses also cropped up along the
popular Linking Road shopping strip in Bandra-Khar. The BMC issued notices
to 71 shops for changing their user status from residential to commercial or
making additions and alterations. However, no action has been taken yet even
as illegal hawkers and stalls also clog the road.

    An activist from the Khar-Santa Cruz area said that several hundred
illegal constructions plague the ward.

    "Look at Bandra and Khar stations. Illegal hawkers have taken over the
area, making it difficult for commuters to gain access to the station. The
queen of the suburbs has become the queen of sprawl,'' he said.

    Even as malls sprout along main roads, the residents of villages
(gaothans) face the peculiar problem of not getting permission for repairs
and redevelopment due to heritage rules. The builders, however, manage to
demolish old houses and put up new structures there in direct contravention
of all municipal norms. Ranwar Pali village and old Khar village have become
hotbeds of illegal building activity as they fast lose their oldworld
cottage charm.

    Citizens' initiatives did goad officialdom into building Bandra's
beautiful sea-facing promenades, at Carter Road and Land's End, but
activists like Savita Mehra pointed out that beautification drives along
other roads should be combined with proper garbage segregation and disposal
if localities are to remain clean.

    Mehra also said that the slum rehabilitation schemes of the government
and BMC should be implemented more effectively, or slum dwellers get
exploited by various agencies and political groups. Proper implementation
could help free up a lot of land, she said.

    Finally, there's the growing security problem. The sea-facing promenades
became highly popular nighttime haunts, so much so that the police ordered a
clampdown after reckless driving claimed the lives of several labourers
along Carter Road last year. Several residents have called for labourers
brought in from outside the city to work on roads, drains and buildings to
be properly housed by the concerned contractors.

    The ward has also seen a number of thefts and murders, with retired,
elderly people being among the more vulnerable targets. The Bandra police
has begun a special scheme to protect senior citizens.

    WHAT PEOPLE WANT

Planned development and better governance

Assurance of enough water, electricity, parking and sewage disposal before
buildings are given redevlopment and construction permits

A proper building code to ensure that roads and other structures are
constructed in line with highquality standards

Action against illegal structures that are sprouting up all over the ward.
Action against illegal hawkers

The swift completion of road-widening projects

Ensure slum dwellers are properly housed under the slum rehab scheme and not
taken advantage of by unscrupulous or political elements

Security along sea-facing promenades, especially at night. Security for
residents. Proper housing for construction and road labourers

Roads, parks and promenades should be continuously beautified and
maintained. Garbage is properly cleared

Better roads, especially so that they don't develop potholes during the
monsoons

Better security, especially in light of the sizable floating population that
visits the suburbs for work VOIC E OV E R

Fr Vernon Aguiar PARISH PRIEST ST ANDREW'S CHURCH 'We want the municipal
notices that seek land from the Parsi agiary and St Andrew's Church for
roadwidening to be withdrawn. There is also a need for better governance in
the city and an administration that can deal effectively with various civic
problems. '

Savita Mehra CIVIC ACTIVIST BANDRA RESIDENT 'We need road rollers not only
so we get smoother roads, but also on the footpaths, to flatten all the
illegal structures and stalls that keep sprouting up. We need sensitive
corporators and a better civic administration. '



Ernest Fernandes MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT ST ANDREW'S ROAD ALM MEMBER 'We want
the municipal notices that seek land from the Parsi agiary and St Andrew's
Church for road-widening to be withdrawn. There is also a need for better
governance in the city and an administration that can deal effectively with
various civic problems. '

UPHILL TASK: The BMC has taken up road-widening along the busy Hill Road,
but residents say a reluctance to deal stringently with illegal hawkers and
businesses may nullify efforts to decongest the area. (Top left) One of
Bandra's USPs, the Bandstand sea-face and promenade


URL :
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzAxLzIyI0FyMDEwMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom