The opposition parties in the BMC demanded that the proposal be sent back to the administration for reconsideration
The initiative by members of the Breach Candy Residents Forum and Breach Candy ALM, representing more than 750 families, has been submitted to the municipal commissioner as a possible model for implementation across wards. “Once the action taken is documented on paper and reported to the higher authorities, it creates accountability and makes it harder for the same encroachments to come back.
Mumbai: Frustrated with recurring footpath encroachments and what they describe as a lack of sustained action under the BMC’s Pedestrians First initiative, residents of Breach Candy have devised a “BMC Footpath Report Card” in an attempt to put on record whether promised action is actually implemented on the ground. A resident said that while they do appreciate the BMC for its ‘Pedestrians First initiative’, which was also a much-needed step for Mumbaikars, this needs to be a sustained activity. A resident said that unless action taken against encroachments by the local BMC ward office is properly documented and submitted to senior authorities, there is no guarantee that the encroachments will not return. There has to be a record of what action was taken, against whom and whether the encroachment was removed permanently,” the resident said. A civic official, however, said documentation was already part of the BMC’s process. We are also making every effort to ensure that those against whom action has been taken do not return to the same spot and recreate the problem,” the official said.
The report card seeks to document the exact stretch affected, identify the problem, specify the action, the department assigned, and the target completion date. The form lists common pedestrian problems such as hawkers and kiosks blocking footpaths, parking, broken or uneven pavements, permanent structures, inadequate clear walking space, open drains, garbage and construction material, streetlights and other obstructions. “Whenever action is taken, photographs of the action are documented. Notices are also issued wherever required before taking action. So there is documentation at every stage.