The civic body wants to lease the area outside the east side of the terminus to implement SATIS, Western Railway says it has no clue there is a plan in place
The ongoing BMC demolition drive at Behrampada, Bandra on Thursday. PIC/ PRADEEP DHIVAR
Every commuter who has to navigate the Bandra east area will vouch for the fact that it is overflowing to the brim in every department — be it the stalls, slums or the auto-share queues. But, if the BMC can have its way, in conjunction with the WR, it will soon be able to give a makeover to the 30,000 square metre area and eventually curb pedestrian as well as the traffic woes there. To that end, it has sought to lease the area and implement station and traffic improvement scheme (SATIS), along the lines of Thane.
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Demolition overdrive
Over the last three days, a massive demolition drive carried out by the BMC has led to the felling of 100 stalls, 109 shanties and removal of 153 vehicles parked on the roads to clear the space for traffic movement. Now, to ensure that there is no encroachment again, the civic body is looking at fast-tracking the plan of implementing SATIS.
Interestingly though, the WR claims that it has not been made aware of any such plan and has had no discussions regarding it.
Meanwhile, BMC officials said a 2.5-kilometre bridge is likely to be constructed for buses and small vehicles to go all the way to Bandra Terminus. Additionally, the civic body wants to lease the open plot from the Railways and use it for the development of the station area. As part of SATIS, the BMC will also improve the side-strips of the roads where encroachments have damaged construction.
Primary plans
But, even as the credit of suggesting SATIS for Bandra has been given to deputy commissioner of Police (Zone 8), Anil Kumbhare, authorities said that the plan is at a very primary stage and that there is no clarity on whether consultants have been appointed to draft the design of the project.
Alka Sasane, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of H East ward, said, "We have discussed the SATIS plan at Bandra east station and if WR agrees to lease out their land, the development of the area will be at a much faster pace. We have cleared a majority of the land encroachment around this area that could have posed a hurdle in this plan."
30k Area in sq m that BMC wants to lease to implement SATIS
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