Anti-encroachment drive
The road was originally planned to be widened to 60 feet, but only a 40-foot-wide road was constructed, defeating the purpose of the project and compromising its capacity to handle future traffic. It was reportedly the second fatal accident on the stretch in 34 days. Following a review meeting on Nov 5, municipal commissioner directed NMC and NIT to launch a coordinated anti-encroachment operation from November 6 across Godhani Road, Zingabai Takli and Tower Road. All 10 NMC zonal anti-encroachment squads, the central squad and NIT’s team took part, backed by heavy police deployment. Around 50-60 civic officers and employees from all 10 zones participated. Officials seized nearly a truckload of material, including four handcarts, while 70-80 permanent sheds were demolished using JCB machines. Around 40-50 hawkers reportedly resisted the action in the afternoon, but the teams continued the drive under police protection. Meanwhile, traffic police imposed restrictions on heavy vehicles on the Zingabai Takli-Godhani village stretch between 6am and 10pm from November 6, following the fatal accidents.
Within hours of the accident, NMC launched demolitions, removing seven sheds, including one belonging to Garva Biryani Centre, during a late-night operation. The drive followed public outrage over a woman’s death in a road accident . The issue came into sharp focus after Tuesday’s accident claimed the life of Ashwini alias Jyoti Pankaj Falke. The operation targeted unauthorised structures, permanent constructions, roadside stalls and commercial activities in common marginal spaces between plots. Unauthorised handcarts and materials occupying footpaths and road margins were also removed.
Responding to a query from TOI on Friday, Gadkari said he had sanctioned the 4km Zingabai Takli-Bokhara road for cement concrete construction under the Central Road Fund (CRF), with an allocation of Rs35 crore.