mid-day Impact: Unauthorised 'Pay and Park' stopped at Juhu beach

The beach has been mostly cleared except for construction vehicles that are working on the Sea Link project. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Providing some relief to the area, police barricading at a long-neglected entry point of Juhu beach near Sunil Dutt Garden has decreased unauthorised vehicle entry at the spot. The action came within a week of mid-day highlighting the violations in its May 9 edition.

According to locals, the issue has persisted for years, but the number of vehicles has increased drastically since last year. Local residents had flagged the issue to various authorities, but observed no permanent or regular action to resolve the issue. "This is the first time the authorities have blocked that entry point," claimed multiple residents.

Illegal parking issue

Vehicles illegally parked on the beach last week. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

Spot: Stretch of Juhu beach, near Sunil Dutt Garden, Juhu Koliwada

Issue: Lack of entry barrier, unauthorised vehicle entry on the beach, illegal parking, debris and garbage being dumped along the intertidal zone

Status last week: No entry barriers, unauthorised vehicle entry continued

Current status: Santacruz police cleared the parked vehicles from the spot, and metal barricades have been installed at the entry point near Sunil Dutt Garden, with the remaining abandoned vehicles expected to be removed soon

Why some vehicles remain…

Barricades put up at the entry point near Sunil Dutt Garden. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The vehicles that are still on the beach reportedly fall into two categories - authorised construction vehicles associated with the Sea Link project, and vehicles that are unclaimed/abandoned.

"During my visit to the spot, I had noticed that a few seemingly abandoned vehicles, including cars and auto-rickshaws, were yet to be moved from the beach. I had seen traffic police officials clicking pictures of these vehicles… they must be moving them soon," said an area resident.

Local Speak

Devang Mehta, Juhu Koliwada resident
Action taken is appropriate. However, this is temporary action. One needs a permanent solution to resolve this indiscriminate parking and blatant violation of CRZ norms, which impacts both biodiversity and ecology. Owing to the multidisciplinary government agencies involved, a single point of responsibility needs to be considered and affixed. Illegal parking and indiscriminate waste dumping on beaches should never be permitted.

Nicky Dsouza, Juhu Koliwada resident
I have been informed that a few individuals are trying to target us because we raised this issue. Such threats appear to be an attempt to suppress us from raising public issues in the future. Our MLA, Ameet Satam, has requested to be kept updated on the matter. Our concern has always been only about the illegal parking of cars on the beach. The issue was first highlighted in April 2025, but since then, this is the first time concrete action has been taken.

Official Speak

"Santacruz police took action, and barricading has been done at Juhu [beach] to prevent illegal parking", said a traffic police official. mid-day tried to connect with Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare for details regarding the action taken, but didn't receive a response by the time of going to press.