Footpath or valet zone? Khar hotel accused of blocking public pathway

An illegally parked car on the footpath. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE

A public footpath just 100 metres west of Khar railway station has allegedly been used as a private parking space for over six months, denying pedestrians their rightful pathway. The alleged encroacher is the Unicontinental hotel, which runs a list of popular places at the property, including The Habitat and Hotel Samrat. According to the locals, the issue has been reported to BMC, traffic police and the local police multiple times, but occasional penal action doesn't deter the hotel from parking vehicles on the footpath.

Spot check

mid-day visited the spot on Wednesday and Thursday. The footpath ahead of the hotel entry gate was blocked for pedestrians due to a private parking arrangement, benches, and a flagpole.

Street dwellers occupy the footpath, further restricting access

The entire stretch of the footpath, which is adjacent to the Hotel Unicontinental building, is also visibly narrower as compared to its usual width, hinting at the possibility that the hotel structure might have encroached out onto the footpath beyond its boundary. Pedestrians were seen unable to access the footpath, while the private property treated the footpath as its own premises with cars parked.

Past civic action

A flagpole blocks the footpath outside the the Unicontinental hotel

The hotel had won sympathy from many netizens last year after a political mob vandalised its premises and civic authorities took action against its unauthorised structure - a move many netizens saw as political revenge for jokes made about a prominent politician by a comedian during a show on the premises.

Commuter Speak

Neha Juneja, Khar resident
‘I have been flagging this issue for months, but the hotel still continues to park on the footpath. It's been three years since they started this. Members of the Khar Citizens Collective inform the BMC, police, and traffic department regularly.

We often click photos and send them to the traffic police, but I doubt they take any action, and even if they did, the hotel continues to park here. One time, the hotel staff snatched my phone and tried to intimidate me while I was clicking photos of the illegal parking.

I have registered a non-cognisable complaint at the Khar police station in that incident. A few months back, I saw children from a nearby school get injured while navigating the parked vehicles'

Amol Sonawane, Works at Khar
‘I have my office in Khar West, so I pass this spot daily. I have noticed parked vehicles blocking the footpath for the last three years. On most days, one to two cars are always parked here. Apart from this blockade, the area's footpaths in general aren't very usable. Occasional action by the authorities does not resolve the issue. Things go back to the way they were'

Anuj Gautam, Santacruz resident
‘I often visit this area with friends. I think this place was renovated two years ago, and that's when they made this parking arrangement on the footpath. I have been seeing this since then'

Official Speak

Dinesh Pallewad, assistant municipal commissioner, H West ward
‘I wasn't aware of this issue. We will inspect the site for encroachment and take action. The authority regarding vehicles, though, rests with the traffic police'

A bench installed by the hotel illegally. PIC/SARTHAK MEHTA

An H West ward official
‘This is a clear encroachment of a public footpath. We will plan an anti-encroachment drive in the area and have the issue resolved within this week'

Dr Dipali Dhate, deputy commissioner of police (traffic - headquarters & central)
‘I wasn't in the loop about the locals flagging this issue to the traffic police. I will check the specifics about the hotel and ensure that daily action is taken against vehicles illegally parked on the footpath. Nobody is allowed to park at public places'

No response from hotel

mid-day contacted Unicontinental via its website, WhatsApp number, and e-mail seeking its response on the allegations, but received no response at the time of going to press.

Letter to Zone IX DCP

"When the public requests that the footpath be cleared, representatives of the hotel threaten and intimidate pedestrians," the Khar Citizens Collective alleged in a letter to the DCP of Zone IX.

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No of cars always seen parked at the spot