This week, Mumbaikars want solutions to a functional kabutarkhana, MTNL landline not working and illegal stalls on footpaths
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Mid-Day has introduced a new initiative: DEAR GOVERNMENT.
In this your favourite newspaper will print your questions to BMC, Police and State Government every Monday, and will get answers on your behalf. Be it roads, water crime, government policy, whatever your query, write to us at mailbag@mid-day.com or tweet to us at @mid-day and we will try and get responses to your problems.
Problems
Garbage on the road
Why don’t political parties let all the vendors and food stalls operate on the footpath outside their homes? In that way they will be safe and guarded by them and will also save the taxpayers’ money blown up on their protection. For a while, we have been complaining about the garbage opposite the Sahkari Bhandar located near Agar Bazar, Kashinath Dhuru Marg, Dadar, which is a junkyard, and no concrete steps have been taken to clear this space.
Shilpa Nayak
Illegal stall on footpath
Residents of Navjivan Co-op Housing Society at Lamington Road have raised a serious complaint against the illegal overnight installation of an Aarey stall (Stall No. 37) on a public footpath on Patthe Bapurao Marg, near the Navjivan Society Bus Stop and Balaji Hotel. The stall was allegedly unloaded after midnight on June 10, 2025, using a crane, blocking over 80 per cent of the pedestrian walkway.
Despite a formal complaint filed with the BMC (Complaint No. 723073127), the civic body has wrongly marked the complaint as ‘Action Taken’ while the stall remains in place. Citizens visiting the D-Ward office were verbally told of a ‘transfer order’ from Breach Candy, but no document has been shown or officially produced.
Local residents have expressed outrage, citing public endangerment, misuse of civic infrastructure, and possible administrative collusion. Late-night repair work is also reportedly taking place, suggesting unauthorised commercial activity. Citizens have also cited Supreme Court and Bombay High Court rulings restricting hawkers to designated zones and have warned of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) if no action is taken.
Jayesh Doshi, Satish Bokadia, Haresh Doshi
Kabutar khana nuisance at Forjett Street
The Kabutar Khana on the junction of Forjett Street (D Ward) is fully operational. The health hazard is compounded with the horrendous green sheet full of pigeon shit and feathers! Despite complaints to local representatives and requests to locals not to feed pigeons, nothing is being done.
Bapsy Framji Patel
Landline not working
I am a 78-year-old senior citizen and my MTNL phone number has been out of order for a year and the only reply I keep getting is that cables are not working. Please help me get my phone back in working condition.
Menino Gomes
Responses
After Mumbaikars sent in their questions and woes to mid-day last Monday, some of the authorities concerned responded. We haven’t given up on the rest. We shall continue to hold authorities accountable for the state of the city.
Rodent infestation
Sushant Shetty
Response: The secretary of the building Chirag Khatri informed mid-day that L&T has informed them that the house lock can be broken only under police protection for which the latter has already
applied. The Malad West police has informed the secretary, L&T and mid-day that they would provide protection once permission is obtained from the CP’s office.
Please add more Metro coaches
Chandan Sharma
Response: “In view of sustained high ridership, Mumbai Metro Line-1 has initiated plans to augment train capacity by adding coaches to four-coach trains. Necessary technical, operational and infrastructure assessments are underway and the rollout will be undertaken in a phased manner upon completion of requisite approvals. However, all this is subject to lead time for procurement of coaches which is not in our hand,” a Mumbai Metro One official said.
Pothole on speed breaker
Kiran P Chaudhari
Response: Following a call from mid-day, the BMC R/North ward undertook temporary pothole repairs at the speed breaker. A detailed story was covered on the issued in mid-day edition dated March 28.
Noisy Vendors
KSN Iyer
Response: An official from the Encroachment Department of G/North ward said, “Action will be taken against the hawkers, if they are not authorised with a licence. Action is taken on a continuous basis against hawkers encroaching footpaths.”
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