Booming development leaves infrastructure far behind
Eastern suburb’s arterial roads are choking with traffic jams, while condition of narrow bylanes deteriorates
Swatee Kher
Mumbai, January 15: The tale of woes for N ward, made up mostly of the Eastern suburb of Ghatkopar, resembles any other suburban ward. Stories of infrastruture lagging behind rapid development, main roads choking with uncontrollable traffic and determined encroachments taking up open spaces.
The areas of Pant Nagar and Parksite have witnessed rapid growth in the last few years, with high-rises clouding the city’s Gujarati heartland. But infrastruture has failed to match the real estate boom and the increasing population here. Major traffic congestion in the three arterial roads-L B S Road, R B Kadam Road and Barve Road-is proof of this war’s struggle to cope with the influx of people.
The vehicular movement in this area has increased manifold in the last two to three years. After Sion, Ghatkopar has the next East-west connecting flyover. This flyover becomes a bottleneck and witnesses regular traffic jams,” said Viren Merchant, a member of the advanced local management group.
Narrow bylanes of this residential suburb, brimming over with increased vehicular traffic, are deteriorating rapidly. “The ward office road has been beautified, but pavements in the area are not user-friendly, especially for senior citizens,” said Merchant.
Basic structural problems like height difference between the concretised main roads and the narrower bylanes need to be fixed. Stray cattle wandering along already-crowded roads is another issue nagging the residents. Many localities here, like Kirol village and Narayan Nagar in Ghatkopar (West), were badly hit in the July 26 deluge. Damodar Nagar in Ghatkopar (East) needs a proper sewage disposal system, as it suffers regular water
logging during monsoons.
The area surrounding Ghatkopar station has always been a problem spot, and unauthorised hawkers selling their wares near the station is another issue that demands a prompt solution.
Putting a stop to encroachments on open spaces will prove to be the biggest challenge here. While slums have begun to mushroom in the space adjoining Somaiya College, residents of Garodia Nagar had to take their fight to save open spaces all the way to the Supreme Court.
URL : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=217847