The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the MMRDA to file a reply as to what it pertains to do with regards to a masjid, which is coming in the way of the construction of Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR).

Excerpt from DNA, reported by DNA Correspondent on Jan 19, 2012: Read Full Article 

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

The HC was informed that the masjid trust has been given an alternative masjid, which is 10 times better than the old one, but they are not allowing the old one to be demolished. The advocate for the trust argued that the new masjid, which is on Mhadaland is not being given an NOC and thus the new masjid is not legal.

The bench then directed MMRDA to write to Mhada for granting the NoC.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by a private construction company whose permission has been revoked by MMRDA. The company, Priya Constructions, wants to demolish the masjid situated at Tilak Nagar, as it is coming in way of the Santacruz-Chembur-Link Road and is required to be demolished for the implementation of a Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. According to the petition filed by the company, it was granted Letter of Intent in the year 2010 by MMRDA.

On Thursday, the authorities had a long-awaited gift in store for motorists on the Eastern Express Highway, but they bungled on the packaging. Five years in the making and after overcoming numerous hiccups, the Suman Nagar flyover was finally thrown open to the public in the morning.

Excerpt from Hindustan Times, reported by Zeeshan Shaikh on December 09, 2011: Read Full Article

The Suman Nagar flyover, which was started in November 2005,

owever, there was chaos at its mouth thanks to inadequate and confusing signage put up by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and traffic police.
The 500-metre flyover was planned to help motorists headed to Navi Mumbai, Pune or Konkan region bypass bottlenecks along the Sion-Chembur belt by going over the Suman Nagar junction in Chembur.

The confusion was created since the authorities had not pulled down the old signage directing motorists to keep right to take the right turn to go towards Navi Mumbai, while the new signage, asking them to keep left to use the flyover, was too small for anyone to notice.

This resulted in minor traffic blockages at the Chembur end of the flyover. To ease the congestion, the traffic police had to deploy personnel to announce the change on a bull horn during the evening peak hours.

The flyover was thrown open without any fanfare after chief minister Prithviraj Chavan backed out from holding a public function as he did not want to cause traffic snarls.

It is a known fact that whether it is mobile or other electronic goods, even a range of other household items like cupboards, utensils etc. China made is cheaper compared to Indian goods and easily available in the market.
Source:  Sudhakar Anchan , Photo Courtesy : M.M. Shirodkar

Made in China

But what is surprising is that on the eve of Bakrid festival, goats from China are also sold by vyaparis (goat sellers) inside Deonar abattoir. Due to escalating price rise owing to inflation, buyers prefer China goats which are available way cheaper than Indian one for offering qurbani during Bakrid.

An Indian goat weighing between 30 to 40 kgs is sold for around rupees 40,000. But China goat of the same weight is available for rupees 15,000 inside the market in Deonar abattoir.
Asif STD, a vyapari from Madanpura Mumbai who brought 50 China goats to sell has this to say, “I am selling these China goats for prices ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 as per their weight. Poora market me dhoom machi hai. I am the only one selling China goats and people buy it because they can afford it.”
Sources say that till now approximately only twenty thousand goats arrived. Last year by this time 2.5 to 3 lakhs goats arrived from all over India and were doing brisk business. The slowdown in the market and insufficient resources in buyers have had combined effect this time around inside the abattoir.
Another vyapari Bismilla Khan states, “Market has slowed down because of which buyers are not going for high priced Indian goats. When cheaper goats from China is available why they would buy Indian goats anyway”.
China goats are little shorter than their Indian counterparts and also have beards because of which they look very attractive. Women and children are easily attracted towards China goats as they look like cartoon characters of China. “Within two days I have sold all of my 50 China goats and I plan to bring 200 more goats for the next three days” tells Asif which reveals the whole story in the market.
Sayad Irshad Aslam who bought a China goat from Asif maintains that while buying goats for Qurbani he looks for healthy and attractive goats as it serve the purpose. “When am getting healthier and attractive China goats for a much lower price than the high priced Indian goats, why should not I buy it?” questions Irshad.

Citizens and traders will help the civic body in its drive to clear illegal hawkers from pavements in some of the city’s most congested areas, and make space for pedestrians to walk.While in some areas, residents have promised to keep an eye out and inform the Brihanmumbai
Excerpt from Hindustan Times Mumbai, reported by Bhavika Jain on October 15, 2011: Read Full Article

File photo : N.G. Acharya Marg, Chembur

The civic wards in Ghatkopar and Chembur will start cracking down from the next week. “Following many complaints about hawkers encroaching footpaths near Chembur station, we have decided to take action,” said AS Barde, assistant municipal commissioner, M-west.

Municipal Corporation (BMC) if the hawkers return, in other areas, traders have proposed adopting footpaths and appointing private security guards to ensure the hawkers don’t come back.
The BMC initiated the drive following complaints by citizens’ groups. The crackdown will go on in each area for 10 days.

On Friday, it started clearing hawkers from pavements near Dadar station (west). “If hawkers return, we will call the BMC,” said Saurabh Jain, member of a citizens’ group.

Over 1,000 hawkers were cleared from Dadar with the help of 60 civic staff, 50 policemen, 30 college students and 15 citizens’ group members.

Source: CHEMBUR-GHATKOPAR PLUS, a TOI supplement dated October 8, 2011, by Sudhakar Anchan

Shivaji Nagar police station is quite far off from the MHADA colony and hence they are unable to provide security to existing residents of MMRDA buildings say police

Photo Courtesy : M.M. Shirodkar

A few days ago at Ghatkopar-Mankhurd linik road near Indian Oil Nagar in MHADA Colony, a seven year girl Iram Shafiqulla Khan was found dead in an open water tank.
The Shivaji Nagar police probing the death of Iram registered a case of murder owing to the post mortem report that showed injury marks on the victim’s scalp and chest.
In this MHADA colony there are several empty buildings whose wooden doors and windows are broken. Electrical fittings are stolen and sold by drug addicts who made these empty building as their dens especially during the night. These are MMRDA buildings constructed by MHADA for displaced slum dwellers.
Watchmen from the colony say that these empty buildings from building No.32 to 35 consisting of several wings have become a perfect place for anti social elements to carry out their nefarious activities. “We are defenseless against them as these criminals carry knives, choppers and swords and threaten us if we come in their way” says one of the watchmen on grounds of anonymity. One of the them has injury marks on his neck and hand.
Residents who stay in adjacent MMRDA buildings say that this is the second such untoward incident. Barely six months ago, a girl had fallen into the open water tank at the same place. Most of the water tanks are open. Even if authorities cover it drug addicts steal them.
“No girl can venture out after eight at night. We are frightened. Many such incidences can occur in future if the menace of drug addicts is not solved. Again, the two roads which lead to MHADA colony is in such a bad shape that it is impossible either to drive down or to walk. Further, if anyone found walking alone after 9pm in this area he is robbed” said an angry resident.
He further says, “No police patrol van can be found in this area. We have given verbal and written complaints to Shivaji Nagar police but nothing has been done so far.”
But police sources say that this MHADA colony is far off from Shivaji Nagar slum. That is why police do not go there.
Crime PI Vikas Sonawane states, “Shivaji Nagar police have written a letter to MMRDA authorities to cover all the open water tanks in that area. If MMRDA fails to cover the tanks properly then they will be responsible for any untoward incidents which may occur in future. We have also started sending police patrol vans regularly in the area day and night.”

Excerpt from Hindustan Times Mumbai, reported by HT Correspondent on October 05, 2011: Read Full Article

The RCF police, who are investigating the alleged abduction and rape of a 21-year-old woman by three persons in an autorickshaw on September 26, have zeroed in on six autorickshaw drivers plying in the Chembur-Chunabhatti stretch who have not been found at their residential addresses.

representational picture

The RCF police have been looking out for an auto driver and his two accomplices, who allegedly abducted the victim — who is suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) mental condition — from outside her mother’s Vashi Naka residence around 2.30am. The accused forced her into an autorickshaw, raped her and dumped her while she was unconscious in Chunabhatti. She was later found wandering around by beat marshals on night duty and taken to Sion hospital.

“Since one of the accused was identified as an autorickshaw driver, we began searching out for drivers who matched the description of the accused given by the victim,” said an officer from RCF police who did not wish to be named.

“We have narrowed down our search to six autorickshaw drivers. We have not been able to track them to their residence. We suspect the accused belongs to this group,” added the officer.

The police had released the sketches of the three accused based on the description given by the victim last week.

Earlier Stories : -

• Abduction and Rape : Suspects’ sketches released 
• Woman gangraped in moving rickshaw near RCF

Excerpt from DNA, reported by Manoj R Nair on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2011: Read Full Article

Around 60 young men and women have been training at a ramshackle school in the Shivaji Nagar slums in Govandi for a year now to become constables in the Mumbai police.

Maharastra Police

The school’s stone-strewn ground is training ground for practising the 5-kilometre run, the 100-metre dash and the long jump — the components of the physical test to select police constables.

For two hours daily in the evening, volunteers of the local mohalla committees teach the police aspirants written Marathi and discuss current affairs, apart from the athletic training.

Almost all the candidates are Muslims and Dalits, beneficiaries of a project by community groups, Magsaysay award winner Jockin Arputham and Mumbai police that aims to increase the representation of religious minorities and backward castes in the city police.

Excerpt from Indian Express, reported by MANASI PHADKE on Oct 03 2011: Read Full Article

Last week’s Bombay High Court order asking residents of Netaji Nagar to vacate their premises may not bring the long-delayed Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) much closer to completion.

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

Construction work on one section of the project has been stalled due to a squabble between the contractor and the MMRDA over price re-negotiations.

The contractor, Patel Engineering, stopped work several months ago asking for a hike in contract value to keep up with the rising prices of construction material. The MMRDA, the nodal agency for the project which is a component of the showcase Mumbai Urban Transport Project funded by the World Bank, is yet to decide on whether it will revise the contract value and, if so, by what quantum.

 by Sudhakar Anchan , on October 1, 2011.

Considering Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials action on rogue auto drivers for meter tampering and refusing passengers, autowallas in the eastern suburbs are refusing to ply to places like Kurla Terminus and Bandra Terminus, domestic and international airports, Hopsitals like Bhaba Hospital in Kurla and Bandra and even Leelavathi Hospital.

They fear for getting caught by RTO officials. Even honest auto drivers are refusing to ply for fear of harassment by RTO officials for one or the other reasons.

Sayyad Irshad Ahmed alias Sameer an auto driver from Gautam Nagar in Govandi reasons, “I run auto for a 12 hours shift. In a day I earn around 500 to 600 rupees, out of which I pay 200 as rent, 150 for CNG gas, sometimes I have to shell out 50 to 100 rupees to unscrupulous RTO officials and at the end of day I am left with meager 150 to 200 rupees which is insufficient to run my family”.

“In the eastern suburbs we do not get long distance passengers. That is why we run towards western suburbs as we get maximum passengers for longer routes. But owing to the ongoing RTO action in western suburbs for the last several days we are unable to ply our autos in that area too” laments Sameer.

Autos can be seen parked at several places on the eastern suburbs. Even auto owners are scared of plying their vehicle for getting caught by RTO officials. Senior citizens, pregnant ladies and children suffer most due to non availability of auto rikshaws.

In the area like Govandi where parents are unable to afford school bus fees, prefer to use share auto facilities. But now they are struggling to get share autos because even share autos drivers of school children refuse to ply. Many auto owners who bought their vehicles on bank loans also suffer due to loss of business.

It is also true that many of these auto drivers are illiterate and there are some criminals elements exist in this trade. These rogue drivers harass passengers for not paying their rigged fares. Some even threaten passengers who refuse to pay the rigged fares.

Rajiv Ranjan Singh, a Govandi resident says, “Everyday I go to Sion by auto. Normal fare is 45 rupees, but rouge auto drivers with their tampered meter charges me either rupees 60 or 70. When I say that I am a regular commuter, then they start arguing. If I complain to RTO constables they do not care.”

Another commuter, Mangru Shah informs that autos from Kurla Terminus, Bandra Terminus, International and Domestic airports charge double or triple the actual auto fares. They do not ply for short distances. They say that we give entry to RTO officials (entry in their parlance is bribe). When we complain against these rogue auto drivers to RTO officials present there, they advise us to look for another auto and these officials even try to help us finding another auto which is not in their loop.”

Taxi drivers operating in the area also suffer loss of business. Feroz Ahemd Abdual Gafoor Ansari, a taxi driver says, “Now autos from the eastern suburbs ply beyond Thane and upto Vashi and in the western side beyond Dahisar and upto Miraroad which affects our business. Even after scrapping old taxis and less number of taxis available on the city road, I am suffering due to loss of passengers. From Sion to CST we the taxi drivers rarely get business owing to traffic congestion. People prefer other modes of transport rather than getting caught up in heavy traffic if they travel in taxis. The ongoing RTO action added to our woes even though many of us are honest in our business.”

When CG Plus spoke to Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Brijesh Singh, he said, “In fact auto unions should co-ordinate with RTO officials in weeding out the menace of rogue auto drivers who ply their vehicles with tampered meters.”

Termed as an engineering marvel by the National Geographic, the Santa Cruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) that first started in 2003 is stuck in a maze of encroachments and red-tape. However, an official associated with the project says that this is a project of a “mega scale”.

Excerpt from DNA, reported by Rajendra Aklekar on Oct 1, 2011: Read Full Article

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

Fed up with authorities’ apathy and unprecedented delay, citizens have decided to take up monitoring of the most-delayed project, the Santa Cruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) bridge, to build pressure on authorities. A group of citizens from the Citizens Transport Committee set out to photographically document the project work on October 9.

“It has been more than six years that the project has begun and it is going on at a very slow pace. The authorities do not seem to be bothered about the ground realities and the trouble that the average commuter suffers. There are ramps, pillars and half-built structures left abandoned in crowded areas,” Jitendra Gupta of the Citizens Transport Committee, who is spearheading the campaign, said.

 Earlier stories on SCLR on InChembur News