‘This is very different from earlier drives,' say Mohammad Ali Road residents

Updated On: 26 January, 2024 04:29 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent

Residents allege ulterior motive behind demolition drive, but civic official says it was part of CM-initiated deep-clean drive

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Tiles and footpaths were destroyed outside Hotel Kalandar. Pic/Atul Kamble

The BMC, on Wednesday, acted against encroachments near Mohammad Ali Road market. Shop owners mentioned that, although the corporation frequently takes action against hawkers, this time they went further by breaking tiles and sunshades. The BMC maintained that the action was part of a deep clean drive.

Following the clash between two communities in Mira Road during the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation took action against encroachments in Naya Nagar, a Muslim-dominated area. Shop owners on Ibrahim Mohamed Merchant Road, near Mohammad Ali Road market, felt that the aggressive action by the BMC was related to the clash. Mohammad Kapil Hussain, a manager of Hotel Kalamdar, said, “The BMC team arrived around 10 am on Wednesday without any notice and started breaking the tiles on the footpath in front of us. There wasn`t any encroachment, and people easily walked on it. But they claimed it wasn’t in alignment with the road. They broke it haphazardly, and we had to pay Rs 4,500 to clean up the debris today.”

Tiles, footpaths destroyed outside Hotel Kalandar. Pics/Atul Kamble