`See you at Bandstand.’ Well not any longer

In a written complaint to the Bandra police signed by 300 residents, the association has urged the law enforcers to treat their letter as a First Information Report (FIR) andassist the private security guards deployed in the area to rein in the rowdies. The police, for their part, say they will not register an FIR for the time being but have promised to cooperate. On Tuesady, an inebriated youth whacked a vendor’s helper on the head with an empty liquor bottle as the child brought some fast food to a waiting group.

The promenade, being built at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, is a first government-cum-residents’ initiative in this suburb, where both the Carter Road and Bandstand waterfronts have for years served as an evening recreational spot for children, senior citizens and youngsters alike.

However, Bandstand residents told Express Newsline that they are disturbed at the growing hooliganism at their new promenade. Where barnacled rocks once offered cold comfort to anyone looking to park themselves for the evening, the benches and tiled promenade now offer a welcoming respite.

The complaint states: “Every evening from 9.30 pm onwards, cars filled with persons carrying hardliquor park at the waterfront and drinking goes on till the early hours of the morning, accompanied by loud stereo music, singing, dancing, shouting and sometimes brawls. This rowdy behaviour intensifies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

Says Inspector T L Dalvi of the Bandra Police Station: “This is the first time we have received such a complaint. We have not registered it as an FIR but are treating it like one. We have increased the number of rounds made by our wireless vans in the area. Hawkers are not permitted to sell their wares beyond 8 pm and we are rounding up all those who are flouting the deadline.”

In their complaint, residents have pointed to shops which hawk liquor past the permitted hours. Residents, who take turns keeping vigil on the promenade every evening, have also reported that fast food vans continue to cook up dishes for the revellers while stores in the vicinity keep the liquor flowing into the wee hours.

Arup Sarbadhikary, an office-bearer of the BBRA, explains: “Over thelast couple of years, we have been trying very hard to keep the promenade clean and beautify it. Last year, we got some funding from Shabana Azmi’s MP Fund and started work on building a nature-friendly bandstand promenade. Even though only half the work has been completed, we already notice that visitors are having a party at the promenade and leaving behind a trail of litter.”

Meanwhile, work on the greening and beautification of Bandstand continues. being executed under the supervision of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the promenade will be the first public space to be handed over to residents of a locality for maintenance and upkeep. A low wall is also being built along the promenade, rock-hewn steps leading down to the sea are in store, sand coves for children will be sculpted. Parking space for 100-odd cars will also be organised.

The plan is also focusing on regularising hawkers and ensuring that loud music is turned off by 10 pm. With the civic initiative cementedwith fierce resolve, it seems the party is finally over for anyone daring to overstep the line.