It’s easier today to start a “paani puri or a sandwich or a vada paav joints” right on the footpath. All you need is a table, a stool, and the items that are needed for your “business”. These vendors prepare these items in the most unhygienic manner, pollute the places around and block pedestrian movements and become a cause for the traffic hurdles.
People, are forced to walk only on the roads, at great risk to their lives. Even motorists feel harassed by the occupants of the footpaths and the people who are forced to negotiate speeding vehicles and vice-versa.
The solution lies in the BMC authorities and the government taking earnest steps to remove all the vendors from the footpaths and make footpaths totally free for the people to use. This will also result in disciplined traffic on the roads. But then as long as hafta and corruption thrive, the BMC officials and other authorities will only keep turning a blind eye on all these illegal activities, as removal of these vendors and stoppage of activities, will not bring in the “much-wanted-revenue” for themselves!
And by the way, the latest news of “Army to build FOBs at three city railway stations” is a welcome step indeed. As expected this move by the Defence Minister, has sparked a huge row. I am primarily against deploying army for the services which they are not supposed to do. But then in case of emergencies and exigencies, I feel the expertise and efficiency of the army should be utilised. Here, we are not undermining the competence of the Railways, Ministry and engineers. In fact, key railway officials are in the panel for planning FOBs construction.
And, this is certainly not the first time where our army services are being utilised. There are precedents to using the army’s services to restore bridges, important roads etc. It is not that a battalion is called for. Just a few experts adept at the task will complete the FOBs in just about three months. So, let us not make a mountain out of the molehill!
This, however, doesn’t stop the railways (CR & WR) and the BMC from shirking away from their responsibilities. Once the FoBs are ready the authorities concerned must ensure:
Regular maintenance of the FoBs and its cleanliness;
No encroachments and occupation of the FoB by hawkers, urchins, jaywalkers etc.
Ensure free and safe entry and exit points of the FoBs. Again, no hawkers to obstruct these points.
Mumbaikars have welcomed the fact the work on foot over-bridges will be fast tracked. Mumbai rail commuters need necessary safety measures and infrastructure on an urgent and priority basis to avert mishaps and catastrophes of the kind we have recently witnessed.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
