BMC vs metro authority,over a footpath

The Sion Hospital flyover opened to traffic on New Year’s Eve. Motorists have welcomed the easier movement on the arterial Dr Ambedkar Road but pedestrians have been complaining about the footpath dug up along Laxmibai Kelkar Marg,an adjoining lane.

Two months before the flyover was to be opened,the MMRDA had sought urgent permission to shift underground BEST cables from the central portion of the road to the footpath. Permission was granted to remove the paver blocks and dig up the footpath,on condition that the damage would be repaired immediately.

When this wasn’t done,the civic administration slapped a penalty of Rs 3.27 lakh in the last week of December. “The MMRDA has neither paid the dues nor carried out the reinstatement work. We have given a reminder but they haven’t replied,” said assistant municipal commissioner (F/North) Pradeep Pawar.

MMRDA additional chief (transport and communication) R Ramana said the matter was between the MMRDA and the BMC and he would not like to comment why the fine was not paid or work not carried out.

Officials complained that MMRDA never pays fines for damages caused to civic infrastructure. In the last five years,water pipelines have been broken due to digging for skywalk and monorail projects but none of the dues,amounting to Rs 75 lakhs,was paid,they said. “Since it’s a government body we can only send letters and reminders but these are ignored all the time,” an official said.

Activist Nikhi Desai of Sion,who had complained about the footpath,said the MMRDA should pay the fine. “Why should the common man suffer for the damages caused by MMRDA?” he said.

Desai said the BMC’s clean-up marshall fines citizens violating the law but there is no such enforcement on the government body.