Shopowners in Ulhasnagar meet civic chief

Ulhasnagar: A delegation of shop owners, whose establishments are going to be destroyed as the government has decided to widen state highway 35 to 100 feet, met Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation commissioner Manohar Hire on Monday evening, demanding that the road be widened only upto 80 feet. The delegation, led by former MLA Kumar Ailani and SAI party’s chief Jeevan Idnani, also demanded that alternative space be provided to the demolished shops’ owners if the government goes ahead with its plan.
“Presently, the road is 60 feet wide. If it is widened up to 100 feet, then over 800 shopkeepers will lose their livelihood,” said Kumar Ailani.
The MMRDA, which has undertaken the road widening work from Kalyan to Karjat, has completed most portions.
Work is pending only in the Ulhasnagar city stretch as they are faced with protests by locals.