Proposal to narrow down road due to encroachments8217;

MUMBAI, JAN 13: Ever come across a proposal demanding narrowing of a road just because it has been encroached upon by illegal hutments an...

MUMBAI, JAN 13: Ever come across a proposal demanding narrowing of a road just because it has been encroached upon by illegal hutments and a school? A proposal of this nature has been sent by the state government8217;s urban development department to the improvements committee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation asking for narrowing of a road at Kajupada, Ghatkopar W, from 60 ft to 30 ft. The road mentioned in the Development Plan DP of Kajupada has been developed partially.

While there are a large number of proposals for road widening, this is perhaps the first time BMC has received this kind of a proposal. It has been mooted by Shiv Sena Member of Legislative Assembly MLA Suresh Gambhir, who is also one of the school8217;s trustee members. Gambhir, who has been elected from Mahim constituency, told Express Newsline: 8220;There8217;s no need for a 60 ft road at Kajupada as there8217;s hardly any traffic.8221;

The proposal has raked up a controversy with the local corporator Shubhangi Shirke, also from the Sena, alleging that Gambhir forwarded the proposal to protect his school, which she alleged has been constructed illegally. The school has come up eight years ago. When the proposal came up for consideration in the improvements committee, it was opposed by Bharatiya Janata Party BJP corporator Dr A S Rao. The panel8217;s chairman Digambar Kandarkar thus kept it on hold.

Gambhir said even if BMC decided to develop the road, it won8217;t be possible to do so in the next 20 years due to the hutments. Moreover, the 500-odd hutments are occupied by poor people and as people8217;s representatives, we have to protect them, he argued. He admitted the Gyanprakash school structure cuts into six feet of the road, but was quick to add that the structure was not illegal. 8220;We have the necessary permission from municipal authorities to run the school,8221; he said.

Gambhir had another argument to support his case. 8220;All the peripheral roads which are existing are less than 30 ft. Hence the school authorities requested the urban development department to propose to BMC the narrowing down of the road in the DP plan by making suitable changes in the Metropolitan Regional Town Planning MRTP Act,8221; he held.

S V Deshpande, undersecretary in the urban development department refused to specify the reason for forwarding the proposal to BMC. All he said was that this could be done under the MRTP Act. The state government has sent the proposal under section 37 1 of MRTP Act.

Shirke has now written to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi to intervene in the matter. She added BMC had given permission to the school trust to construct a temporary shed. In 1992, trustees of the school asked for permission to construct a permanent structure, but it was rejected by BMC. But during the monsoon last year, they came up with a three-storeyed structure in just 21 days, she informed. 8220;They put up three slabs in just 21 days. What will happen to students if the school structure collapses?8221; she questioned.

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She added the BMC had served notice to the school for demolishing the temporary shed, but each time they managed to get a six-month stay through the intervention of the CM8217;s office. 8220;Even Joshi has been misled by Gambhir,8221; she alleged. Shirke added she had attempted to develop the road through her councillor8217;s fund, but her proposals were not approved by BMC.