Navi Mumbai Tailor Bird seen in front of SSC nad HSC Board Office Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India - Pic by Jaspal Singh Naol

OPEN DRAINS INVITING TROUBLES Date of Publishing: 2011-01-28 00:00:00.0

Uncovered drains are nothing new in Vashi. But when open drains are on the bus stand, it invites for more troubles. An open drain at the bus stand of St Lawence High School is dangerous for the commuters and as well as for the students. Commuters allege that due to non usage of the bus way, it's becoming more fatal.

Social Worker Harpal Singh says, "I am a regular commuter from Kharghar to Koper Khairane and vice versa to coordinate with street children and youth of Navi Mumbai. Open drains in the city are no new threat, however, it differs in degrees. One of the most dangerous spots is the open drain at the bus stand of St Lawence High School. This is the drain on the footpath made between bus way and the divider. This footpath is used by thousand of students of St Lawrence High School and K B P College and also by thousands of visitor coming to Sector 17 for some or the other commercial reasons. But ironically, the open drain at this stop welcomes them." Social worker and a resident of Sector 16, Vijay Walunj added, "The real fact is the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had developed the bus way long time ago by dividing the road with the footpath. The buses of NMMT and BEST have to enter this way for the commuters. This was made to ensure safety of thousands of students using the bus on regular basis. But, unfortunately NMMT and BEST bus never enter that ways, instead they halt near this footpath to move away. This has created a big threat to the commuters who are forced to stand on the footpath waiting for the buses."This is the same footpath with open drain, students and commuter usually turn victim of it and many times, they fall while moving to the road to catch up a bus. The only way out is the immediate action of NMMC, NMMT and BEST administration department and the traffic department.Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport Manager GC Mangale said, “I will send my juniors to cross check the matter. For the safety of the students, we will take some immediate actions and ensure that the buses follow the bus way.” The NMMC must close the open drain. The NMMT and BEST administration department and the traffic department must ensure that the buses enter and use bus way to ensure the safety of the commuters.—Jaspal Singh naol

It's safety first in Vashi;no cracker shops allowed

JagranCityPlus / Nerul

It's safety first in Vashi;no cracker shops allowed With the idea of 'safety first' Vashi is the only node in Navi Mumbai where cracker shops have not been allowed to be set up in residential areas. In all other nodes of the city, cracker shops have been set up in residential areas. Envisaging the danger that piles of crackers pose in their vicinity, residents are demanding that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation should do the same in each and every node. With the idea of 'safety first' Vashi is the only node in Navi Mumbai where cracker shops have not been allowed to be set up in residential areas. In all other nodes of the city, cracker shops have been set up in residential areas. Envisaging the danger that piles of crackers pose in their vicinity, residents are demanding that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation should do the same in each and every node. Social worker Kishore Biswas says, "NMMC should provide proper space to temporary cracker shops to be installed in each node. While allotting these shops it should take care that the shops are allotted away from residential or commercial areas. This should be done to ensure safety of residents as well as properties. However, the corporation has allotted space to these shops either in the midst of residential area or on busy roads". Vashi ward officer Ashok Madhvi informs, "In our ward we have not given a single permission in residential area. However, Turbhe Ward has allotted a stretch along Palm Beach Road behind Lawrence School and KBP College as this area comes under their limit". However, there is a section of residents who prefer convenience not worried about over safety. Triptesh Shetty says, "Precautions are a must but there is a need to have temporary cracker shops in each sector. This will save precious time of residents who need to go a long way to Mumbai just to buy crackers. It will also save transportation costs". Few of the spots where residents can buy crackers are as follows: CBD Belapur Sunil Gavaskar Ground, Sector 1 In front of Nakhwa Building, Diwale Village, Sector 14 Belapur Village Naka near Talao Nerul In front of Seawood Station, Sector 23 Near SS High School, Sector 44 Behind Nerul Bus depot, Sector 3 Sanpada Sector 3 Vashi Fruit Market, Sector 19 Palm Beach Road, behind St Lawrence School and KBP College Koper Khairane Near Kalash Udyan, Sector 14 Jai Santoshi Ground, Sector 19 — Jaspal Singh Naol

'Death strips' put up on Palm Beach Road annoy motorists

JagranCityPlus / Nerul

'Death strips' put up on Palm Beach Road annoy motorists The strips put up by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation as part of the redevelopment work on Palm Beach Road have come in for criticism especially from bikers and scooterists. The strips put up to regulate fast-moving traffic on the road, have been termed as 'death strips'. The 10-kilometre-long six-lane Palm Beach road connects Vashi to Belapur via Nerul and runs parallel to Thane Creek. It is also the link road used by fast moving vehicles coming from Mumbai towards JNPT, Uran, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, etc. As it has lesser density of vehicles, motorists coming from congested Mumbai roads are tempted to speed up on this stretch. The road also works as an alternative to the old Sion-Panvel highway. This road has openings to Sanpada, Nerul, Karave and Seawoods. There are many malls and high-end residential towers on this road. The stretch is also known as Marine Drive of Navi Mumbai. Many residents of Sector-14, Sanpada, Sectors- 4, 6, 18 Nerul are seen jogging or exercising by the roadside early in the morning. This stretch has also been prone to many accidents due to speeding of vehicles. Baljeet Singh, resident of Sector-8 Nerul complains, "These strips have been fixed in the middle of the road. Whenever a motorist tries to skirt it, the chances of an accident go up. I also fell a victim to it once. Fortunately, the vehicle coming behind me was at some distance away when this happened". Riyaz Shaikh, resident of Sector-27, Nerul recalls his frightening experience. "I was with my wife and daughter coming from Vashi. When I crossed Sanpada and reached the entrance of Nerul, suddenly the rough road surface due to the strip hit and shook my bike. We had to get down and regain our composure after realizing what a close shave we had". Bipin P, resident of Sector 17 Koper Khairane, Sonu Purohit, resident of Sector-12 Koper Khairane and many others have similar complaints to share. When contacted, concerned authorities were not available for comment. A concerned resident says, "NMMC should take strict action against the contractor for risking the lives of thousands of motorists running on this road daily". —Jaspal Singh Naol

Navi Mumbai - Vashi - BROKEN FOOTPATHS TROUBLE THE COMMUTERS Date of Publishing: 2011-01-21 00:00:00.0

The residents of Sector 3 residing along the main road allege that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is ignoring their problems. With little choice residents are forced to walk on broken uneven footpaths.
One spokesperson of Galaxy Cooperative Housing Society, Sector 3, Vashi says, "NMMC has many visions from developing ponds to schools. But, it fails to develop the footpath that is used by 95 per cent of the residentsirrespective of the class they belong to. The working people use it for coming and going back, women use it for household marketing, children use it to go to school, while senior citizens and youth use it for walking and jogging respectively.
But most of the footpaths either broken or dug up. Daily, lakh of people using the footpaths are facing the chaos. The footpath, which link Vashi Railway Station and Vashi Bus Depot are used by the residents of Sector 9, 9A, 10 and Sector 10 A. The authority has left it after the dug up works. This has created a great menace as when the residents cross the road from the Big Splash corner towards Meghraj Theatre they are found to use this footpath that leads to Vashi Bus Terminal. But there is always the threat of the dug up unfinished works. When contacted with the NMMC ward officer, Ashok Madhavi he said, "I am not aware of it and I will check that and act accordingly."

Navi Mumbai - Vashi - WOMEN DEMAND FOR SEPARATE ROOMS IN DAY CARE CENTRES Date of Publishing: 2011-01-21 00:00:00.0

Women of Navi Mumbai want a reality check for the Day Care Centres of the senior citizens. For their convenience, they have demanded either some all women exclusive rooms in those centres or some separate centre for them.
To provide basic services to the residents, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) keeps on experimenting. One of such ambitious project was the Day Care Centre for the senior citizens. But unfortunately, women have raised questions over the project alleging ignorance. They have also demanded more such centres in the area, which would be exclusively reserved for women. They also want the allocation for the same in the ensuing budget.
Over the years, the senior citizens of Navi Mumbai were demanding for proper space, where they could sit, play and discuss the social issues of the society. Considering the demand, NMMC had developed Day Care Centre in various nodes. This was welcomed with an open heart by the senior citizens. However, those centres have failed to cater to the need of the women.
Mohana Iyer, a social worker and a women senior citizen says, "In a patriarchal world, where male is a dominant force, women are always restricted by the men. In India when guests visit our home, we women, confine ourselves inside the women room. The simple reason being, the guests include men. The women guests also prefer to joint us in the internal room leaving men in one room. This shy nature is not a hidden factor and it is an ethos of our culture."
Social Worker of, Saya Jyoti Kaur says, "Confining to the company of women is a practice done by us since our childhood and this cannot just go away as we turn older. Today, each node has hardly four to five senior citizen centres for the population over 25,000 senior citizens in each ward. It means only one centre for 5,000 senior citizens and the space allocated can hardly accommodate 50 even if we sit in an order of a classroom. If it is utilised for playing games like carom or chess then hardly 25 senior citizens can be accommodated in it. And this is why the usage of such centres is limited."
She added, "But pivotal question is- how women will participate in these centres? When women even feel shy to sit with their known people, how will they sit together with other unknown 20 to 25 men? This is a near impossible task. On the other hand, the social issues discussed by men vary from what women like to discuss."
Social worker and senior citizen, Kesar Singh says, "It's the budget time and the NMMC must think twice before making the budget. They must plan for more Senior Citizen Centre that would have two separate rooms exclusive for women with separate entrance for them. They must also redevelop the old Senior Citizen Centre or at least develop new room along the old ones. This would be benefited to the most ignored section of the society and they will also get some space to open up and think beyond the limit.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Pattiwar expresses, "NMMC is the only Municipal Corporation in all over Maharashtra who has developed the Day care centre for the Senior citizens. Both women and men senior citizen must utilize the available space. Dividing the centre will only spread the message of discrimination".
—Jaspal Singh Naol