Excerpt from CG+, reported on Sunday, June 28, 2009 by Vrunda Moghe Dev, Chembur
read full article in CG +

While just a few days prior to the rains the local civic authorities have started cleaning up the storm water drains, other factors may just add to the monsoon woes. In areas like Swastik Park, near Sushrut and Mangal Anand Hospitals, a host of auto-rickshaws are parked overnight till almost 10 am which prevent the clean-up operations.

The parked autos make cleaning of the road difficult

These three wheelers are parked after about 11 pm in an angular manner which also prevents a free flow of traffic.
One of the residents from the area remarks, “The autos now occupy the complete stretch of the road. At the corner of the traffic island, there are two or three rows of parking. It is difficult for the local vehicle owners to even remove their cars out of their buildings.”

WASAN motors outside Swastik Park in Chembur was one of the select few Tata dealerships across the country , which got their first TATA NANO for display.  The showroom expected a huge crowd on the first day but saw only a serious few walking throught their doors to glance at the Indias new wonder car. Having said that,  WASAN  did sell  as much as 300 booking forms at Rs 300 each on the first day.

Many who walked into the Tata dealerships were disappointed that they could not take the car out for a spin. Although Nano merchandise such as T-shirts, alarm clock and key chains were on display, they weren’t available for sales.

Tata Motors’ sources said merchandise and booking forms will be sold from all dealerships, SBI branches, Croma and Westside outlets from Thursday.

Tata Motors launched the Nano in Mumbai on March 23, in three variants. The car can be booked till April 25 and the company will process and announce the allotment of 100,000 cars in the first phase within 60 days of closing the bookings. Deliveries are expected to begin in July.

Few cars around Swastik Park , deprived of their identity ..

On my way back from work, I happen to walk past Shushrut Hospital in Swastik Park. On Friday, I could not fail to notice the Silent Zone sign board outside the Hospital and the other glaring fact that Shushrut Hospital is almost bang opposite a very busy marriage hall… Pop came into my mind that this “silent zone” would regulary turn into a war zone soon between people trying to implement the silent zone rules and the shaadi ka party …

Oh Well! By the way I also could not help noticing that the “SILENT ZONE” signboards are just some stickers stuck on some old boards … Hope there will probably be some boards of near permanent nature , before Mumbai rains washes these stickers away.

Sujatha Subraman in her write up for Chembur-Ghatkopar has quoted this from Sanjay K, member of AGNI…
“In Swastik Park there is a hospital and a marriage hall situated on the same road. Putting up a silent zone board on this road has no meaning as marriage processions that pass by this road will invariably involve use of loud music and firecrackers.” …

Read Sujatha Subraman article in Silent zones face practical problems Chembur-Ghatkopar

Fews days back, there was a notice at the auto rickshaw stand inside Swastik Park, inviting rickshaws  that they could avail night parking space  inside Swastik Park for a nominal monthly fee. Wondered whether it was right and legal? Never realised the gravity of that invitation until HOLI day, when I popped out in the morning … Swastik Park was nothing but a HUGE auto-rickshaw stand.

Also saw this artical today in TOI yesterday, about similar issues around Chembur … titled “Illegal parking: Trucks give Chembur locals” . It was mainly about how hundreds of Chembur colony have been facing the issue of illegal parking of Trucks and JCBs for nearly two years despite several attempts by them to make the authorities take remedial action.

The worst bit for our fellow residents is part of waking at 4 every morning to the rumble of the reving trucks and JCBs.

As Reported By: Sudhakar Anchan  in Chembur-ghatkopar Plus
A water pipeline laying ceremony was held at Siddharth Colony, Chembur by ward no 146 BMC councillor Prakash Phaterpekar and residents of the area comprising of Postal Colony, Acharya Nagar, and Swastik Park including Siddharth Colony.

The water pipe line will begin from Tembe Bridge passing through Shell Colony, Siddharth Colony, Acharya Nagar and Swastik Park till Suman Nagar. Since the year 2000, the residents were facing a severe water crunch as the pipeline laying work could not be carried on owing to some mega project passing through the nearby highway.
…Read Full Story in Chembur-Ghatkopar Plus