Sudden arrival of ‘hawkers’ leaves Juhu society fuming
Residents allege their access road has become overrun with people seeking hawking licences in the BMC drive.
They have turned Juhu into Dharavi, the residents of Ruia Park Cooperative Housing Society complained after the road outside their society became encroached overnight with hawkers seeking BMC licences.
Nearly 40 stalls have been erected along J RMhatre Marg by people in a bid to get permanent hawker licenses from the BMC. The municipal body is currently on a drive to register hawkers, with applicants able to even show receipts of old fines to get on the list.
The star-studded society -- which has celebrities like actresses Bhumika Chawla, Aruna Irani, Riya and Rima Sen, filmmaker Manik Bedi and others – has been complaining about the hawker problem ever since Tuesday night, when people from a nearby colony began setting up stalls.
The residents allege that a local politician gave local fishermen the idea of setting up stalls so that they could get registered during the BMC survey. The hawkers have set up their wares along a stretch that starts from the Hinduja bungalow and continues to Mora Gaon. The residents said that even BEST buses are struggling to ply along the route due to the sudden arrival of the hawkers. “Our cars find it difficult to pass through and even the buses have a problem,” said a resident who did not wish to be named. “It is a narrow lane and the hawkers have restricted the movement of vehicles.”
The resident added, “We were surprised to see the bamboo poles being erected the night before and the next day these stalls came up. This is a prime location in Juhu. The Hinduja family, the Ruias, the Godrejes and other well-known families live here. Who wouldn’t want to encroach and get rights on asite like this?”
The resident said the location has been used for many film shoots, but the stalls have now marred the view.
The residents apparently first tried having a dialogue with the fishermen. When that didn’t lead to a resolution, they lodged a written complaint with the Juhu police and the BMC, who promised to look into the matter.
Alka Narsaria, committee member of Ruia, said, “This society has 84 flats and nine bungalows. What if a mishap takes place tomorrow? Forget our vehicles, even the fire brigade and ambulance cannot enter the society as the road is blocked. BMC people came after the stalls were erected. We have asked them not to give them any licences and remove the illegal encroachments.”
Senior inspector Abhay Shastri of the Juhu police said, “We have received the complaint and are coordinating with BMC officials. We are looking into the matter.”
They have turned Juhu into Dharavi, the residents of Ruia Park Cooperative Housing Society complained after the road outside their society became encroached overnight with hawkers seeking BMC licences.
Nearly 40 stalls have been erected along J RMhatre Marg by people in a bid to get permanent hawker licenses from the BMC. The municipal body is currently on a drive to register hawkers, with applicants able to even show receipts of old fines to get on the list.
The posh, high-profile Ruia Park society has registered several complaints with the BMC and local police to get back unhindered access to the road outside the society.
The star-studded society -- which has celebrities like actresses Bhumika Chawla, Aruna Irani, Riya and Rima Sen, filmmaker Manik Bedi and others – has been complaining about the hawker problem ever since Tuesday night, when people from a nearby colony began setting up stalls.
The residents allege that a local politician gave local fishermen the idea of setting up stalls so that they could get registered during the BMC survey. The hawkers have set up their wares along a stretch that starts from the Hinduja bungalow and continues to Mora Gaon. The residents said that even BEST buses are struggling to ply along the route due to the sudden arrival of the hawkers. “Our cars find it difficult to pass through and even the buses have a problem,” said a resident who did not wish to be named. “It is a narrow lane and the hawkers have restricted the movement of vehicles.”
The resident added, “We were surprised to see the bamboo poles being erected the night before and the next day these stalls came up. This is a prime location in Juhu. The Hinduja family, the Ruias, the Godrejes and other well-known families live here. Who wouldn’t want to encroach and get rights on asite like this?”
The resident said the location has been used for many film shoots, but the stalls have now marred the view.
The residents apparently first tried having a dialogue with the fishermen. When that didn’t lead to a resolution, they lodged a written complaint with the Juhu police and the BMC, who promised to look into the matter.
Alka Narsaria, committee member of Ruia, said, “This society has 84 flats and nine bungalows. What if a mishap takes place tomorrow? Forget our vehicles, even the fire brigade and ambulance cannot enter the society as the road is blocked. BMC people came after the stalls were erected. We have asked them not to give them any licences and remove the illegal encroachments.”
Senior inspector Abhay Shastri of the Juhu police said, “We have received the complaint and are coordinating with BMC officials. We are looking into the matter.”
