Naming new regions after posh areas irks corporators

New area names like Upper Worli, Upper Juhu and New Cuffe Parade that are mushrooming in the city have irked corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. “It is an attempt to wipe out the true identity of the city. If this continues, they might even change the name of Mumbai,” one corporator said.

The civic body should take action against developers, who are promoting their construction projects by using these “hypothetical names”, they said

Raising the issue in the BMC house, senior Shiv Sena corporator Trishna Vishwasrao said developers are trying to attract buyers by using names of posh areas. They have been misleading people by naming Lower Parel as Upper Worli and Wadala as New Cuffe Parade. It is a practice to name areas by great personalities. But it has been overlooked now, she said.

“These developers are trying to create a divide between rich and poor people. By using the names of posh areas, they are also trying to raise the prices of their constructions. The BMC should levy heavy fines on such developers and also halt their constructions,” she added.

Standing committee chairman Shailesh Phanse said the Swami Samarth Nagar in Andheri is now known as Lokhandwalla

Complex. The practice is now being repeated in other areas too, he added. Shiv Sena corporator Kishori Pednekar said along with changing the names of areas, developers are now trying to change the names of roads too.