Poor voter turnout or no, Mumbaikars expect the Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to turn the dismal state of affairs around, and fulfil their aspirations of making Mumbai, if not Shanghai, at least, more liveable. MiD DAY speaks with them to find out what they expect of the new BMC house
Poor voter turnout or no, Mumbaikars expect the Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to turn the dismal state of affairs around, and fulfil their aspirations of making Mumbai, if not Shanghai, at least, more liveable. MiD DAY speaks with them to find out what they expect of the new BMC house
Infrastructure, of course, features at the top of the Mumbaikar's wish-list, along with basic amenities of health, clean water, sanitation. While the demands of some citizens were genericu00a0-- clean encroachment-free roads and footpaths, more open and parking spaces, improved hospitals and schools, and transparency and efficiency in governance; others, after stocktaking their lives and wards, settled for more specific requests, like getting helpers for senior citizens to cross roads.
So Mr Thackeray, let there be less potholes, more development, a better Mumbai and a content citizenry.u00a0 
Swirling for Sena: Shiv Sena supporters celebrate during a victory
march in Parel yesterday after the saffron alliance trumped its rivals in
the BMC polls. Pic/Atul Kamble
Good roads without potholes, security cameras at signals and strict traffic rules.u00a0
- Bhavna Ghedia, Housewife
Build proper footpaths for senior citizens and construct public toilets
for women.u00a0
- Gomati Sawaredekar,u00a0Borivli (West)
Upgrade the BMC schools, which are witnessing a high number of dropouts because of poor infrastructure and teaching faculty, thereby affecting children in slums, who usually attend these schools.
- Siddhesh Surve, Malad
In foreign countries, people keep their cities clean, but that quality is not found here. I would like the corporator to keep the streets, bus stops, market places and railway stations clean. Roads should be pothole-free. Drains tend to choke up during monsoon. There is a need for good drainage system in the city.
- Dhanraj Pillai, Hockey veteran
Safe environs for women are vital, especially at night. Also, constant digging of roads is not acceptable.
- Devika G, Student, Vile Parle
I expect good pothole-free roads apart from continuous water supply. The BMC schools that are not presently functioning should be run and needy children to be provided education. Uddhav Thackeray had promised a sports university, which hasn't come up till now. Preservation of open spaces is necessary. These could be developed into gardens and playgrounds.
- Dilip vengsarkar, Ex-cricketer
No potholes, no water logging, and more train services, please.
- Dhaval Mehta, Ghatkopar
Better parking facilities should be provided. There should be senior citizen-friendly roads. Round-the-clock water supply is also needed.u00a0
- Mahendra Hemdev,u00a0 Businessman, Churchgate
For the win: Citizens throng a vote counting booth in Andheri (East)
after the announcement of the winner. Pic/Mahesh Chafe
There should be coordination between various departments like water, telephone etc as at least one of them comes and digs up roads that are perfectly alright.
- Manoj Salian, Media executive
Too much time is wasted in traffic. That aspect of the infrastructure should be taken care of by the powers that be, with better roads. Also, in some areas, there's a scarcity of water. That should be addressed. Since the Metro and Monorail projects are in progress, the roads under them too should be repaired, as under many flyovers, roads are found to be of poor quality, with uneven surfaces and many potholes.
- Madhur Bhandarkar, Filmmaker
Upgrade the BMC schools, which are witnessing a high number of dropouts because of poor infrastructure and teaching faculty, thereby affecting children in slums, who usually attend these schools. Ensure pothole-free roads in the area, and see to it that paver blocks are not used on main roads because they come off and make the road uneven. Our Orlem area should be kept clean; sometimes we see BMC sweepers don't work properly.
- Siddhesh Surve (25), Works in ad agency, Malad
Ensure adequate and clean water supply in the area. Sometimes, the water is yellowish; the corporator should get the water department officials to solve this issue immediately. Municipal hospitals should be upgraded. There is only one BMC-run (Cooper) hospital near our area, and it is ill-maintained.
- Aarti Sawant (50), Housewife, Four Bungalows
Relocate illegal immigrants and stop encroachment.
- Ranveer Patil (24), Marketing professional, Reclamation
Build proper footpaths for senior citizens and construct public toilets for women.
- Gomati Sawaredekar (74), Borivli (West)
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We expect better roads, reduced and orderly traffic, and importantly, more green cover.
- Reshma Maisheri, Teacher, Mulund
I want my newly elected Congress corporator Vanita Marucha to improve the condition of roads, get rid of potholes, and see to it that the contractor allotted the repair and construction of roads is doing the work properly, or else he should be blacklisted. Second, she should try and provide us with open spaces, which are fast-diminishing, and develop parks in the area. Third, there should be adequate supply of clean water, of which there is a scarcity in our area. Before monsoon, she should see to it that the drains in our ward 59 are unclogged and clean.
- Sujit Chavan (22), student, Versova
No potholes, no water logging, and more train services, please.
- Dhaval Mehta, Ghatkopar
I want the city to be clean. The corporator should ensure development in the area and come up with policies to provide shelter to the homeless.
- Namrata Gurav (19), Student, Santacruz
Remove slums and develop those areas.
- Minal Mestry (26), Housewife, Khar
Better transport facilities are needed. Safe environs for women are equally vital, especially during night hours. We expect good roads - constant digging of roads is not acceptable.
- Devika G (22), Student, Vile Parle
Bring the city at par with international standards, and distribute electricity equally.
- BC Patel (75), Khar
Get roads and lanes cleaned regularly; dirt and garbage lying on the street create health problems. Solve the water crisis, as this is the gravest problem here. Deal with the menace of hawkers in the area.
- Dr Moh Chittalwala (34), Bhendi Bazaar
Good roads are vital. Fewer speed breakers would be preferable. And don't dig up the roads every now and then.
- Shahid Bhaijee (35), businessman, Bandra
I expect better execution of BMC works, as they progress at a very tardy pace. Corruption-free and transparent governance are crucial.
- Advina Parmar, Student, Bandra
We need better roads, slum redevelopment, and lesser garbage strewn on roads.
- Abhishek Pathak, Student, Khar
I stand for good roads, better sewerage system, reinforced water lines, and water conservation, and expect the corporator to pay heed to these issues.
- Nazar Abbas Jafry, Professor
Improve the water crisis as we get water only for a few hours, and it causes us great inconvenience. Ensure regular cleaning and lifting of garbage. Relocate the illegal immigrants in the area.
- Gulnaz Lakhani (25), Student, Bhendi Bazaar
Better parking facilities should be provided. There should be senior citizen-friendly roads and courteous people to help our elders cross the streets. Round-the-clock water supply is needed.
- Mahendra Hemdev (46), Businessman, Churchgate
Encroachment should be dealt with; the BMC officers don't take action even after complaints against encroachers. Good sewerage system is a must as lack of it creates problems during monsoon. A regular complaint is that paver blocks are of bad quality.
- Sudhir Ghedia (53), Businessman, Andheri
There is a lot of filth lying around; we want hygiene. Make provisions for more open spaces and playgrounds for the young population in this area.
- Sajid Mozawala (32), Manager in export company, Bhendi Bazaar
Good roads without potholes, security cameras at signals, strict traffic rules, and a cleaner environment are the means to make this city safer and better.u00a0
- Bhavna Ghedia (47), Housewife, Andheri
Hawkers should be removed from the city streets. There should be better public transport. Find a way to prevent flooding on roads during monsoon.
- Manohar Mestry, (50), Businessman, Khar
I want better infrastructure and good roads. There should be coordination between various departments like water, telephone etc as at least one of them comes and digs up roads that are perfectly alright. Any type of encroachment on footpaths should be cleared as it leads to traffic congestion and accidents, and makes walking on footpaths impossible. Lastly, a little more transparency would take us a long way. We get to know the budget has been approved but it will be great if we knew how the money has been used to the benefit of citizens.
- Manoj Salian, (38), Media executive, Goregaon
I want our corporator to give us a detailed action plan indicating timelines, costs, impact, and benefits of the work done in our area. Meet electricity shortage and provide free education to all.
- Mayur Tare (29), Bhandup, civil engineer
Get the gutters and the drainage system cleaned on a regular basis. Improve the water supply. We get water for only a few hours and this causes us a lot of discomfort.
- Sadik Faizi (20), Bhendi Bazaar
Cleanliness should be maintained; poor auto rickshaw wallas should be provided a decent place to park their vehicles at night without being harassed by anyone; encroachment must be cleared up; and open spaces must be maintained.
- S Ganesan (77), Retired bureaucrat and founder member of Pestom Sagar Citizen Forum
The drainage system is pathetic and creates havoc during monsoon. I want my corporator to look into the matter. Cleanliness needs to be maintained.
- Akshay Pawar (20), Student, Grant Road
Increase clean water supply and control garbage disposal.
- Shama Shivji, Housewife
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