MUMBAI: Residents of Nariman Point and Churchgate took to social media on Monday to question the BMC over why its contractor has left piles of debris on the Marine Drive promenade, a prominent landmark in south Mumbai frequented by several tourists as well as locals.
Residents said for almost a year now, the BMC has been erecting low-level, steel-finish barricades against any terror attack by sea and work on these structures “does not seem to end”. TOI had reported on this work in March 2021, which the BMC had said was being done based on intelligence inputs to avoid future terror attacks. The barricades have been planned till that part of the promenade where the coastal road will come up.
On Monday afternoon, the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT) tweeted: “Debris Drive or Marine Drive? Civic apathy & an irresponsible contractor have left debris and not completed the barricading work for over a year. JCB’s parked & driven on the promenade too. #PublicSpaces.”
Atul Kumar, vice-president of NPCCWT, said work has been on for almost a year now. “We have been witnessing the JCB moving at full speed on the promenade, a space meant for walkers and joggers,” said Kumar.
Ramnarayan Somani, president of the Marine Drive Citizens Association, said, “What if someone falls over the debris and injures themselves?”
Another resident, Sunayana Sadarangani from D Road in Churchgate, said, “Finish the work and clear the debris is all we are asking for.”
When contacted, P Velrasu, the BMC’s additional municipal commissioner in charge of the roads department, said work will be completed before monsoon. “We will review the work and complete it quickly. We will also instruct the contractor to keep the material properly arranged and unnecessary debris will be removed immediately,” he said.
It is learnt the previous contractor died in an accident which led to delay in the work.
