From the most crowded train station to the Mayor’s bungalow and the infamous Dharavi slum, this ward has it all
Overview
G-North ward consists of Dadar, Mahim and Matunga. It also includes places like Mahim Killa, Shivaji Park, Ruparel College, Mahim Police Quarters and Rajshri Shahu Nagar. Dadar railway station, one of the most crowded station in the city comes under this ward and decongestion of areas outside the station is the biggest challenge for the Municipal Corporation.
The famous religious places Siddhivinayak temple, Seetladevi temple, Portuguese church, Mahim Church and Mahim Dargah falls in this ward. Mayor’s bungalow falls in this ward as well. It consists of city’s well-maintained Shivaji Park maidan, while Mahim Nature Park also falls in this ward. The ward is a political hothouse, home to Shiv Sena head quarters and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
On the other hand, the infamous Dharavi slum here, spread across 600 acres of land with 6,500 huts, has five electoral wards out of 11 in G-North ward. The infrastructural development and maintenance of sewerage system, widening of roads in Dharavi is a big challenge for the civic body.
Mithi river partly falls under this ward as it merges into sea at Mahim creek after flowing from slums of Kurla and Sakinaka. The management of functions for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary in Shivaji Park and death anniversary on Chaityabhoomi is a challenging task for the officials.
Political scenario
2012 civic election was a shocker for Shiv Sena as MNS had swept five seats out of total 11 seats in Shiv Sena’s strong hold Dadar and made its way in G-North ward. Sena could win only two seats. Congress which was fighting neck-to-neck with Sena was also left with only one set. Samajwadi Party’s and Republican Party of India(A)’s presence is limited to only one seat each. At present, the Member of Parliament for this ward Rahul Shewale is from Shiv Sena. The two MLAs, Sada Sarvankar and Varsha Gaikwad are from Shiv Sena and Congress respectively. In the upcoming 2017 civic elections, both Shiv and Congress will fight hard for more seats in the G-North ward. While, MNS will fight to retain its dominance.
DELIMITATION EFFECT
After delimitation, there is no change in number of electoral wards in G-North. The total number remains 11.
ISSUES
- All pavements outside Dadar railway station are heavily occupied by hawkers forcing passersby to fight for every inch of walking space. The hawking causes traffic jam in areas like Kabutarkhana.
- The roads in Dharavi area are not wide enough and hence cause traffic jam. One lane on Sion-Dharavi link road is shut since last three years.
- Infrastructural development in Dharavi with new sewerage lines and storm water drains is the need of the hour. Underdeveloped infrastructure causes water logging.
- The water from Mithi river which meets the sea at Mahim creek is polluted and carries garbage after flowing through slums of Kurla and Sakinaka.
RESIDENTS SPEAK
The High Court had passed orders to demolish all structures below the Keshav Sut bridge which is parallel to Dadar station, so as to create enough space for public to walk. But the hawkers in Dadar have increased in multiples in the last few years. Municipal Corporation and the Police have not been able to be of any help. There are 9,000 illegal hawkers in Dadar itself.
— Dilip Awte, Chairman, Friends of Dadar Organisation and a resident
The Mithi river, after flowing through Kurla, gets polluted with garbage as a result of which Mahim beach gets polluted too. We work very hard to clean the beach everyday but there should be a permanent solution to this problem. The dirty water causes health issues and the marine life gets destroyed as well. A whopping amount is allotted to the authorities for cleaning of the Mithi river, but it has been of no success. BMC has not taken any steps to improve the water’s quality and we can not let the river stay polluted.
— Zafar Khan, ALM secretary, Dargah street and resident of Mahim
THE OFFICIAL WORD
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G-North ward, Ramakant Biradar said, “As per the High Court’s order, hawkers are allowed. But to resolve the congestion, we catch and fine them. But we pro-actively work to decongest the station area. The Dharavi redevelopment is with state government. We only look after water supply, waste collection. However, infrastructural development is a big task. The roads are already wide enough but the cars are parked on both sides of the roads. But it is the traffic police’s responsibility to not let the vehicles park. For Shivaji Park functions, we put full force for management purposes including hygiene. The very next day we clean up the area entirely,” he added.
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