Excerpt from TOI, reported by Linah Baliga, TNN on Nov 29, 2011: Read Full Article

Residents of Chembur on Sunday nominated civic activist Dr Neelam Rane as their citizen candidate for the BMC elections slated for February, 2012.

Dr Neelam Rane as their citizen candidate for the BMC elections slated for February, 2012

Popular in her locality–ward 149-for taking up various civic issues, including the closure of the Deonar dumping ground, 51-year-oldR anehas pipped pathologist Dr Indumati Gopinath as the citizen’s choice for the corporators ‘ contest. Currently, the Shiv Sena’s Raja Chaughule is the corporator of ward 149 in Chembur, which comprises Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar and Chedda Nagar.

According to residents, Rane has since long been fighting for the citizens ‘ rights. Being a managing committee member of Pestom Sagar Citizens’ Forum, she, along with her doctor husband Sandip Rane, spearheaded the Smoke-Affected Residents’ Relief Forum in Chembur, which was formed to fight against environmental pollution caused by illegal dumping of garbage at the Deonar ground. “We found that the illegal garbage dumping was taking a toll on the environment of Ghatkopar, Chembur, Deonar and even parts of Vashi. We filed a PIL 14 years ago and did not stop our battle against the onslaught on environment till 2010,when thehighcourtordered a scientific closure of the dumping ground. The HC formed a committee and entrusted it with the task of overseeing the shutdown. My husband, Dr Sandeep Rane, is a member of the panel,” said Rane.

Citizens in Chembur and Govandi either approach Chembur or Trombay police stations unaware of the new Govandi police station

Excerpt from Afternoon, reported by Tariq Khan on ovember 21, 2011: Read Full Article

Chembur, Govandi, Trombay

Govandi police station, which was inaugurated a few months ago to cater to the needs of an ever increasing populace of Govandi (East) and parts of Chembur (East), is located in such a place that even citizens staying in Govandi are unaware of its existence.

The police station is located near Raheja Acropolis, behind Punjabwadi bus stop. To be more specific, it is off Sion-Trombay Road, between Punjabwadi petrol pump and Telecom Factory. There exists an arterial road which takes us to the Govandi police station, which means the police station is located behind the petrol pump and Telecom Factory.

The police station became a necessity because of rapid population increase on account of many up-market residential buildings, turning the once sleepy eastern suburb into a favoured destination for house hunters. Besides, a few slum pockets which existed are either re-developed or under re-development as per the SRA scheme.

Earlier, citizens in this jurisdiction had to visit the police stations of Trombay or Chembur which are located at quite a distance. Now a new Govandi police station could give them much needed respite if only people have knowledge of its existence.

Santacruz to Chembur in 17 mins by Dec 2012

Excerpt from TOI, reported by Ashley D’Mello & Sandeep Asher, TNN on Nov 18, 2011: Read Full Article

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

There’s good news for city commuters. The decks have been cleared for an overbridge at Milan Subway, Vile Parle, with chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad dealing with the issue of shifting a mosque and a madrassa.

The shifting has delayed the Rs 41-crore plan at the chronic flooding site. Gaikwad sorted out the issue amicably while pointing out an alternative site agreed upon by all parties.

The site was identified earlier and discussions were held, but objections had been raised by some parties.

Another crucial project, the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road, was given a boost when two buildings at Netaji Nagar were demolished after 64 flat owners accepted compensation to cover their rentals for 36 months. They will be housed in a building constructed by HDIL at Bharat Nagar, BKC.

After many inordinate delays, the Suman Nagar and Barfiwala flyovers will be open to motorists in January, easing the flow of traffic in the city

Excerpt from Mid-Day, reported by Ranjeet Jadhav on 2011-10-31: Read Full Article 

The Suman Nagar flyover, which was started in November 2005, will finally see the light of day in January, after finishing touches have been added. File pic

Motorists gearing up to use the Suman Nagar flyover in Chembur and the Barfiwala flyover in Andheri will not have to wait for long. They will be able to use them in January, when the flyovers are likely to become operational. Earlier, commuters had expected to use the flyovers by December itself.

Confirming the same, Joint Project Director, MMRDA, Dilip Kawatkar said, “The monsoon is over and now we will carry out the concretisation work on the flyovers and add finishing touches.

By December end, all the work will be completed and motorists will be able to use the flyovers by January, which will help motorists going towards Pune, Nashik, Navi Mumbai via the Eastern Express Highway.”

Excerpt from TOI, reported by Chittaranjan Tembhekar on Oct 10, 2011,: Read Full Article

Kurla residents protested against the delay in the completion of the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) on Sunday . The project has been delayed for over seven years now.

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

“At the starting point of SCLR’s 3.4 km-long alignment from the Western Express Highway (WEH), where there are no encroachments, the widening of the bridge on a nullah is incomplete. There are 12 such points along SCLR’s elevated as well as road-level alignments where there are no encroachments.
Why is there no progress in the construction over the past five years?” said Jitendra Gupta, an activist from Kurla. Kanu Agarwal, a Kurla resident, said, “No work has begun to widen the Mithi river bridge where there are no encroachments. The work could have been completed long ago.” Another resident Naresh Sonarkar said, “The concretization of CST Road near the partially-constructed LBS flyover ramp is still incomplete.”

MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said the work will be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

Source: CHEMBUR-GHATKOPAR PLUS, a TOI supplement dated 8/10/2011, by Sudhakar Anchan

The September 24 issue of Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus (CG PLUS) carried a story titled ‘In horrible condition’ about missing fans at the Chembur railway station in the stretch of first class compartment at platform No.2, water leakage and unclean platforms.

Chembur Station (Photo Courtesy : M.M. Shirodkar)

Within five days of the publication of the story, a wall fan and a ceiling fan have been installed by railway authorities.

Yogesh Gujran, a regular commuter says, “A wall fan and a ceiling fan have been fitted now. though the new wall fan is smaller than the previous one it is much comfortable now to stand and wait for train’s arrival. We would like to thank you CG Plus for this.”

Talking about puddles of water on the platform near drinking water facility and unclean platform, station maste of Chembur Railway station said, “There is no problem of water leakage at the Chembur station. It is the school children who while drinking water spill water on the platform. These kids need to be sensitized towards cleanliness.”
“We have only three sweepers in this station. Out of three sweepers one is deputed for night shift. Recruiting contract workers for maintaining clean railway station is not in our hand” says the station master when enquired about the filthy surroundings of Chembur station.
Another Chemburite Ranjankumar R. Amin says, “The quick installation of new fans at Chembur railway station itself shows how impactful CG Plus is.”

 by Sudhakar Anchan , on October 1, 2011.

Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region), Quaiser Khalid initiated a programme to instill good values and characters to wayward youths of muslim dominated areas in eastern suburbs of Mumbai. In co-ordination with muslim religious committees, NGO’s along with parents and guardians of local youths, he has started arranging this counseling and guidance programme.

Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region), Quaiser Khalid

As most of the crimes in urban area happen in muslim dominated areas, children and youngsters instead of attaining formal education step into the world of crimes like, theft, robbery, kidnapping so on and so forth. Due to this, the gap between the police and society in general is increasing in this area.

To bridge this gap police has started to form a committee comprising of religious bodies and NGO’s to hold meetings. One such meeting was held on Thursday at Mhada Colony, opposite Gautam Nagar, Plot No.1 at Govandi. In the meeting youths were made aware about the dangers of stepping into crime world. It is easy to take to crime but difficult to come out of it they were told.

Quaiser Khalid speaking on the occasion said, “We need to identify the root cause of purpose behind criminality. There are two ways. One is to put pressure and restrict them. Another is by counseling and motivating, bringing people together to interact with the police. We have started a drive to sensitize local youths about harmful effects of crime. For that we are involving community agencies. I am of the firm opinion that change should come from within both internally and externally”.

Gathering at Thursday at Mhada Colony, opposite Gautam Nagar, Plot No.1 at Govandi.

“In the recent 15 days around 8 to 10 crimes like murders, robbery, extortion and theft occurred in this region. Whoever has done these crimes are not professionals. First timers for the lure of easy money and high life have done these acts which could have been easily nipped in the bud. In future our initiative should be responsible to stop such crimes whereby we can create a healthy society” added the police officer.

In the biggest ever police recruitment in Maharashtra 17,000 constables will be inducted into the force. Mumbai will have a share of around 2,000 constables. In this context the Addl. CP said, “Send your wards for police recruitments. Do not allow them to take the path of crime. Guide them when they need it most.”

All senior inspectors of east region comprising of Zone-VI and Zone-VII in 16 to 17 police stations were directed to form such committees. Particularly in police stations like Shivaji Nagar, Deonar, Trombay, Nehru Nagar, Mulund, Vikhroli and Ghatkopar police teams were formed to find which medical shop owners supply addictives like whitener, tablets like Restil, Netrogen (commonly called as buttons), Korex syrup, solution bams without doctor’s prescription.

Kaisar Khalid Additional CP adressing the gathering at Thursday at Mhada Colony, opposite Gautam Nagar, Plot No.1 at Govandi.

Dr. Rahil Siddiqui, a practicing doctor in the area was very much instrumental in the initiative started by the additional commissioner of east region. “In Shivaji Nagar-Govandi belt most of the school drop-outs step into the world of crime. Initially they start with drugs and alcohol, become addicted to it then become regular with crimes like thefts, molestation, eve teasing, robbery and kidnapping” informs Siddiqui.

Tanzeem Ulema Ah-Le-Sunnat, its general secretary Mauana Zakir Qasmi and Siddiqui with the help of social activists of different NGO’s in the area came together in coordinating with the police to remove the malice of growing criminals in this muslim dominated area. “With the help of police we try to create a good and healthy society. Maximum numbers of youngsters become waywards, eve teasers and take wrong paths. We will change them for better by counseling them regularly. We will show them real seen behind the so called petty criminals turned dons. Lure of women, wine and easy money attracts youngsters into crime world but their end is always gruesome, we definitely will make aware of these realities to these wandered souls” adds Siddiqui.

Excerpt from Mid-Day, reported by Ranjeet Jadhav on 2011-09-16: Read Full Article

Authority says it will open one tube of the twin tunnel on Anik-Panjarpol Link Road by March next year, instead of June — giving commuters from CST to Chembur something to look forward to

Dual wonder: The project is the first of its kind in the country, where the twin tunnels are within city limits. (Inset) Workers oversee the construction at the site

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, in a break with an unbending ritual, said that one of its projects would be opened to the public, not after, but well before the deadline!

One half of the twin tunnel on Anik-Panjarpoli Link Road (APLR) will be thrown open to the public three months before June 2012, the expected date of completion. By March next year, motorists will be able to drive through half a km in the left tube of the tunnel from Anik in Wadala to Panjarpol in Chembur.
…
All about APLR
The APLR project is being built at a cost of Rs 210 crore and is, in turn, part of the Eastern Freeway Project (EFP), which will provide a new 22-km road from Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya in south Mumbai to Ghatkopar. Once completed the entire stretch will be helpful for commuters travelling between Chembur and CST.

New Delhi: Team Anna and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government have finalised the Lokpal Bill draft which has been sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources have told CNN-IBN. However, the two sides have not come to an agreement on three contentious issues: inclusion of the lower bureaucracy in the ambit of the Lokpal, having a Lokayukta in every state and a Citizen’s Charter for each government department.

The biggest sticking point is the issue of bringing lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal’s ambit. The Government says that there are over 2 crore employees in lower bureaucracy and another mammoth organisation will have to be created to monitor them. Team Anna has already rejected the Government’s offer of a separate bill for lower bureaucracy, which was proposed by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh a few days ago.

On the issue of lokayukta in states, the Government said that it was upto the individual state governments to take a decision on it and they can’t be forced. Team Anna has also stuck to its demand for a specific deadline for the bill to be passed by Parliament. However, the Government said that such an assurance can be given only after the all-party meet.

The draft was finalised after the second round of meeting between Anna Hazare’s associates – Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi – and Government nominees – Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Congress MP from East Delhi Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday.

Soon after the meeting Khushid and Dikshit met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at North Block to discuss the draft. The finalised Lokpal Bill draft will be circulated at the all-party meeting called by Singh at 3:30 PM. Mukherjee will address the meeting and try to bring all parties on a common platform on the issue.

Hinting that the logjam will come to an end soon, Bedi tweeted: “Meeting over. 3 sticking issues of lokayut (lokayukta) and others held. Discussions continue. But we are running out of time. Today is vital.” Later Bedi posted another tweet: “Most imp issue is Lokayukt. Which brings in lower bureaucracy. Govt is trying to find an answer to this and other issues ASAP.”

However, Bhushan said that the talks were still on and there has been no outcome yet.

Sources a resolution is likely after the all-party meet which can be treated as written assurance from not only the Government’s side and Parliament. Hazare and his associates have been firm on a written assurance from the Government on the Lokpal Bill before the protest fast is called off.

With the Government pushed into a corner over corruption, it is trying to use the all-party meet to bail it out of the situation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have some reservations about some of the clauses in Team Anna’s version of the Lokpal Bill. The party has declared that it will not clear its stand on the issue unless the Government finalises its stand.

Hazare, 74, has been fasting at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi since August 16 for a strong anti-corruption legislation.

Excerpt from TOI, reported by Proshun Chakraborty, TNN on Jun 28, 2011: Read Full Article

…  Abha Singh, director postal service (HQ), launched UID centres at Chembur and Kalbadevi post offices in Mumbai on June 24. The same will be launched in 896 post offices across Maharashtra Postal circle that includes Goa. In Nagpur, it will be launched soon at about 35 post offices.

Vyavahare told TOI, Nagpurians can begin enrolling at these post offices for UID soon. The identified post offices include GPO and post offices at Shankar Nagar, Itwari, Borgaon, Deonagar and Laxmi Nagar. Over 100 other post offices have been identified all over Vidarbha for UID Aadhaar card, he said. …