This PCO juts out on to the road, say residents A group of residents from St Leos Road and St Dominics Road recently met Anil Khoje, assistant municipal commissioner, H-west ward, to protest against a PCO kiosk near the junction of the two roads.

Though the PCO kiosk is not functional as yet, we are anticipating heavy traffic congestion when it opens, points out Valerian Fernandes from St Leos Road. If it starts operating, this booth will cause a huge problem as St Dominic Road has two schools, a college plus vehicular traffic, says Patricia Nath, another resident of St Leos Road.

Like other roads in the New Kantwadi Scheme, St Dominics Road was handed over to the BMC by the Salcette Society after demarcating the residential plots.

The roads have existed since then and are meant for the residents of the area; not for commercial activities, says 75-year-old Gwen Fernandes. Adds 80-year-old Able Rengel from St Dominics Road, Our road is not broad and does not even have a footpath. A kiosk on the side of the road will cause major traffic hassles.

Though the owner of the PCO was not available for comment, Raju More, the owner of another PCO booth on the same road, pointed out that the owner was probably just waiting for a phone line to start operating the booth.

The residents have probably objected to his booth because it juts out on to the road while mine is inside a shop, says More. He adds, I have been here for over seven years and no one has complained.

When contacted, JB Gupta, assistant engineer of the maintenance department, BMC, says that the booth would be shifted.

We granted permission for the booth because it is for a handicapped person and is 100 metres away from the other existing booth, but the residents have objected to it, says Gupta, agreeing that the booth may lead to congestion on the road as it is narrow.

We wont allow the booth to start operating; we will shift the PCO, he says.

lina@mid-day.com