Autorickshaw driver Yogesh Yadav cringes when he is reminded of the chronic traffic jams at the busy Suman Nagar junction where VN Purav Marg and the Eastern Express Highway meet.

Excerpt from DNA , reported by y DNA Correspondent on 4th May 2012: Read Full Article

Suman Nagar junction

“The road here is always jammed during rush hours,” says Yadav, who plies his vehicle regularly on the stretch. The traffic eases only after 9pm, he adds.

However, there may be hope for harried motorists like Yadav. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is planning to do away with the bottleneck by commissioning around four additional lanes for southbound traffic at the junction this month, completing the long- pending rail under-bridge (RUB) project

Barring the Stuffed Chicken Pizza and a few other dishes, our experience at international chain Sbarro’s Chembur outlet left a lot to be desired

For pizza and pasta-loving Chembur residents, the opening of Sbarro, an outlet of an international Italian pizza chain, may have come as a welcome surprise. After all, the suburb is not especially renowned for its Italian cuisine.

Since it’s situated at a prime location in Chembur, we didn’t have a hard time spotting Sbarro. The bright board outside painted in the colours of the Italian flag looked nice and we were impressed with what we saw as we entered.

The glass case at the entrance had large-sized pizzas on display and right next to it was a small live kitchen where attendants were busy rustling up a quick meal.

As most of the seats on the ground floor were occupied, we headed to the first floor. We seated ourselves comfortably and were waiting for an attendant to take our orders or give us a menu card. When we ventured downstairs to enquire we were told that self-service was the norm there.

….Excerpt from Mid-Day, reported by Surekha S on April 30 : Read Full Article

All in all, Sbarro serves decent fare but we wish they soon start serving dishes on the table as we don’t fancy the trek up and down (calorie losing properties, notwithstanding).

Sbarro
Food: good
Service: could be better
Ambience: pleasant
At Unit No 4, Garden apartment, Chembur.
Call 25211317 / 318

The Navdurga Co-op housing society located adjacent to the widened road is facing problem of unauthorized parking due to unfinished road work. Their exit route for vehicles facing this road is yet to be given a slope as a result society members cannot exit from this side.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus dated April 21, 2012 by Sudhakar Anchan, Pix by M.M. Shirodkar
This road leads to Shah and Anchor Engineering College and also to the Govandi east station road. The road has been recently widened and the entire stretch of this road is laid with pavers block.
But the beautifully laid pavers blocks on the road is undone by the incomplete finishing work on one side of the road plus the unused sand and pavers blocks lying on both sides of the road. Due to unfinished job, the drainage line can be seen chocked with other clutters that might block flood water during monsoon.
A society member, Vineet Agarwal says, “Adding to the unfinished road work, the widened road has become parking spot for trucks. Parked trucks at this stretch have become a nuisance for everyone. Truck drivers are seen openly urinating at this spot which is a major embarrassment for women and girl students of the college using this stretch.”
“Why cannot the BMC utilize this stretch of the widened road as an authorized parking slot as many offices are also located in this area? Nuisance of truck drivers will not be there and BMC can earn some income to their kitty by utilizing the widened road space for pay and park facility,” reiterates Vikram Shah another society member.
Pramod Bahalkar, Secretary of the Navdurga society rues, “Even though the BMC has done a very good job of nullah widening, mud accumulation should be cleared before the onset of monsoon.”
An officer on grounds of anonymity said, “Let society members approach our maintenance department. The needful will be done. Unfinished road work and unauthorized parking menace will also be taken care of.”

Two months ago while playing outside his house at Shivaji Nagar plot No.19 one and half year old Faizan Khan went missing. Thirteen year old Sameer Gulabuddin Sayyed who went missing on March 13, 2012 outside his residence at Sant Nirankari Nagar in 90 feet road, Shivaji Nagar is still not found.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus, dated April 21, 2012 by Sudhakar Anchan.
Similarly, Saheb Azam Gulfam Khan (16) who went missing on February 16 from his transit camp home in Mankhurd is still untraceable. A complaint has been lodged at Mankhurd police station. Same is the case with Ritesh Gajendra Paswan (15), who disappeared from his house at Rafiq Nagar in Shivaji Nagar during October last year.
Sources say that a gang of child kidnappers is active in these areas. After kidnapping minors they in turn sell them either to begging mafias or to pimps who run prostitution racket if minors are girls.
At Shivaji Nagar, Deonar, Makhurd, Tilak Nagar, RCF, Trombay, Kurla, Nehru Nagar where maximum slums exist, photographs of these missing children can be seen in the police stations.
In Shivaji Nagar three years back, one four year-old boy went missing in the market area. the boy’s mother was with him in the market. Till now his whereabouts are not known. Likewise, a one year old boy went missing from a Shivaji Nagar municipal hospital when his mother went there to buy some medicines.
Worried parents in the area say that kids are not missing instead they are kidnapped. Police by filing missing complaints close the file in due course. But if kidnapping case is filed then police carry out further investigation.
“After the time lapse of many years, parents cannot recognize their children as their faces change drastically while growing,” says a Shivaji Nagar resident.
According to police sources, in central suburb itself around 1000-1500 children went missing in the year 2011. They included minor boys and girls. Many are traced but majority of them are still missing. Minors are seen begging near the traffic signals, at religious places and on the streets.
When CG Plus contacted Quaiser Khalid, additional commissioner of police (east region), he said, “It is not correct to say that there exist a gang of child kidnappers. Under minors even the children under the age of 18 included. Many times, most of these teenagers from slums run away from their homes due to family discords or at times because of abusive parents.”
He further added, “Last year under Shivaji Nagar jurisdiction out of 57 missing boys, 53 were traced. From 49 missing girls 48 girls have been brought back by the police. Likewise under Deonar police, out of 25 boys, 24 got traced and all the 25 missing girls under their jurisdiction are back home.”
This year up till now under Shivaji Nagar police, out of 22 missing boys, 19 are back. From 25 missing girls 23 were traced by the police. “So to say that there exist an organized gang of kidnappers is incorrect. There may be one or two instances of kidnapping but you cannot put every missing incidence as a kidnapping racket,” added Khalid.

The 6.45-km Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) is going to miss its fifth deadline of December 2012 owing to a delay in approvals from the Central Railway. Engineers working on the project, the construction of which started in 2003, expect it to be completed only by June 2013.

Excerpt from Indian Express, reported by MANASI PHADKE : Mon on Apr 16 2012: Read Full Article

Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)

The project, which was planned in 1997, is just about 70 per cent complete. “There is no chance of the project being completed by December. Now, the only major hurdle for the project is the approval from the Central Railway to take the road over the railway tracks at Kurla on the harbour line and main line,” said Rahul Asthana, commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The MMRDA is the nodal agency for the project while the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is the implementing agency. The SCLR, part of the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project, will enhance connectivity between the eastern and western suburbs and cut the distance between Chembur and Santacruz to a 15-20 minute ride.

The pathetic condition of Chembur east west crossing step-bridge existing on Chembur east market side still prevails.
Even though the then BMC corporator Prakash Phaterpekar of ward No.146 promised to repair the bridge right earnestly, it lays unattended even now.
Source: CHEMBUR-GHATKOPAR PLUS, dated April 14, 2012 by Sudhakar Anchan. Pix by M.M. Shirodkar
“When I wrote a letter to superintending engineer (Bridges Department) of MMRDA, he assured me to solve the problem,” said the former corporator.
Complaints given to the authorities have not yielded any results up till now. Senior citizens, mostly women are the worst sufferers. Injury due to a bad fall in inevitable. They either sprain their ankles or suffer from head injuries due to a bad fall.
“People fall down from the bridge when they remain engaged talking on mobiles while crossing over. Two months before, after having a bad fall from the step bridge a lady was taken to Rajawadi Hospital,” said Nazeem Shaikh, a key maker.
Banwarlal Govindram Bora, a regular commuter who uses the bridge said, “The steps of the bridge renovated three years ago were just an eye wash. Since then nobody bothered to redo the broken tiles and protruding edges of the steps. We have given written complaints to the BMC but it is of no use.”
“The railings erected on either side of the step bridge at least give some support to the commuters from falling down. While erecting this support system, the contractor told us that his job is over, now the steps repairing work will be done by the authorities doing the sky-walk work on the western side of Chembur station. But until now we see no progress at all,” he added.
Ganesh Ramchandra Malve, a book store owner located nearby stated that every day minimum 10 commuters using the bridge have a bad fall. “We lift the injured and give them water before they move out either to the hospital – the badly injured or back home – the fortunate’s with minor injuries.”
When CG Plus team met the newly elected ward representative of Ward No.146, Suprada Phaterpekar, she said that she is very much aware of the problem. While using the bridge few times, she herself feared for her limbs.
“I have spoken to the maintenance department already. I have even asked the BMC to hire a private agency to get the bridge repaired,” said the corporator.
“I will make sure that I will get it done without losing further time. If the concerned authorities cannot solve the problem, I will approach some sponsors to get the bridge repaired before the onset of monsoon,” assured Suprada.

The residents of building No.2 of Dolly Friends Co-op Housing Society Ltd. in Sahakar Nagar (Shell Colony) in Chembur are worried lot these days.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus, dated March 31, 2012 by Sudhakar Anchan. Pix by M.M. Shirodkar.
The cause for their worry is that the BMC has increased the height of the road nearly four feet from their building compound which is an open invitation for flooding during monsoon.
Instead of enjoying the ride on the newly laid road in front of their building, the increased height of the paver block laden road is destroying their sleep.
The height of this newly laid road was at the ground level of the building before the work began. Residents believe that the rise in height was for smooth running of BEST buses which otherwise had to wade through flood waters during monsoon.
“While raising the road height BMC has completely ignored our safety and damage flood water can cause to our building,” laments a building resident not wishing to be named.
Sharan T. Hadpad, an old resident of the society, states, “Our building is in low lying area and all the flood water flows in during monsoons. Before slums came up in Thakker Bappa Colony and Siddharth Colony they were open wet lands where rain water used to flow. But now the entire seen has changed. Even building came up in salt pan lands around us.”
“The increased height of the road in front of our building done by BMC which is nearly four feet will be a death knell for our building in the forthcoming monsoon. Even during 2005 Mumbai floods, we had nightmares. Our ground floors had submerged with nearly five and half feet water and we suffered a lot. Crack developed in our building. We have put up an iron pillar in each and every flat of our ground plus three story building since then,” Hadpad further added.
The building No.2 has actually become a centre for water logging during monsoon as the surrounding area is either redeveloped or packed with slums.
Govind Kadam, a senior citizen who stays in ground floor flat averred, “When the road work was in progress the contractor ignored all our pleas. Our Electric meter boxes lies on the ground floor which is now in grave danger of submerging during monsoons. Apart from flooding due to increased road height we are now in the danger of getting electrocuted as well.”
A member in managing committee of the building society Kamini Todai protested, “BMC has never responded to our problem. Years ago we have complained them to cut three big trees in our compound. Floor tiles are uneven in our ground floor flats due to the penetration of roots of these trees. I don’t think BMC is sensitive enough to listen to our pleas and the impending danger of flooding we have to face this monsoon due to their insensitive road work.”
When CG Plus approached BMC’s M-West ward, a ward official on condition of anonymity said, “The road work is done by Central Agency of Municipal Corporation. All the allied factors are taken into consideration while increasing road height. Proper design work is done by BMC consultant. Shortly we have a meeting with Chief Engineer (Roads).”
“Shell Colony being the low lying area it has this flooding problem. The redevelopment surrounding the existing old buildings further aggravated the situation. We will dwell into these aspects in the meeting” the official further added.
When CG Plus spoke to Vandana Sable, Corporator of Ward No.145 where Shell Colony falls assured that she will engage pumps to remove flood water during monsoon.
“As the entire Shell Colony area is under redevelopment, this building society will also be in for redevelopment in the near future,” added Sable.

Newly elected ward committee president’s vehicle including several others were damaged by miscreants in Shivaji Nagar, Govandi.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus dated 31.3.2012 by Sudhakar Anchan
According to the police, at around 9.30 pm, the miscreants mainly drug addicts aged between 13 to 18 years damaged six four-wheelers and one two-wheeler using hammers, rods and swords. Their motive was to create fear in the area.
Out of the damaged vehicles one white Tavera belonged to Noorjehan Rafique Shaikh, the M-Ward committee president and the ward No.131 BMC corporator.
Police sub inspector Salim U. Khan who is investigating the case said, “Three absconding accused Masjid, Saddam and Baba along with 10 others have been named in the FIR. They have been booked under sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 427 and 336 of IPC vide C.R. No.100/12. We will nab them very soon.”

RCF police arrested three persons for allegedly murdering a 32 year old Chandrakant Jai Varak. The main accused is wife Sangeeta (25), second accused is her lover and the third a relative.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus dated 31.3.2012 by Sudhakar Anchan
The victim was found dead in his house in Mahulgaon at Vashi Naka in Chembur. At that time his wife pretended to be unaware of the cause of death. In the meantime victim’s relative sensing something amiss informed the police.
“Sangeeta had an affair with her neighbour Ramchandra Bhagoji Shewale (28) which Chandrakant had come to know of. The couple had regular fights over the issue. It is then the lovers planned to eliminate Chandrakant with the help of another accused Ramesh Bavdhane (22), a relative of Sangeeta. She promised to give Ramesh her gold ornaments for helping and concealing their plan,” said senior inspector Dilip Yadav of RCF police station.
The accused Sangeeta in her statement to the police said, “Both the male accused had caught hold of Chandrakant’s hands and legs while I strangulated him.”
“The post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death by strangulation. All the three accused have been booked under sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. They are in police custody till March 30,” added Yadav.

Accused Devi Saila Tamang is from Shirpur in Dhule, Maharashtra. The victim Tara Banu Amir Ali worked as a labourer is a native of Guwahati in Assam. To earn some extra bucks she asked her friends to find a job in Maharashtra.
Source: Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus dated 31.3.2012 by Sudhakar Anchan.
Her friends referred her to Devi. Tara’s husband, also a labourer and her minor son stayed back in Guwahati.
After reaching Shirpur, Tara refused to be a part of Devi’s prostitution business. One of Devi’s accomplices, Roshni then suggested her to escort Tara to Bhiwandi. Both Devi and Tara travelled in a luxury bus to reach Bhiwandi.
Since both were fast asleep, they got down at Amar Mahal in Chembur instead of Bhiwandi. It is here that the patrolling police saw the due arguing ferociously. Both were brought to Tilak Nagar police station for questioning.
When Tara revealed everything to the police, they promptly arrested Devi and confiscated Rs 1,30,000 cash and all the gold ornaments she was wearing.
Police sub inspector Vijay Ahire of Tilak Nagar police station said, “Devi will be produced in court. Roshni has been declared absconding. Further investigation is on to ascertain the involvement of more people if any.”