<p>Mid-Day has introduced a new initiative: DEAR GOVERNMENT.</p>
<p>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&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mailbag@mid-day.com">mailbag@mid-day.com</a>&nbsp;or tweet to us at&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/mid_day?s=11" rel="nofollow">@mid-day</a>&nbsp;and we will try and get responses to your problems.</p>
<h2>Problems</h2>
<h2>Private vehicles used as taxis</h2>
<p>Private vehicles (white number plates) are being openly used as taxi services for hotel guests near Boman Behram Road (Mereweather Road), close to the Taj Hotel for the nearby hotels like Garden, Godwin, Oliver, Gulf and many hotels.</p>
<p><strong>These vehicles:</strong></p>
<p>&gt;&gt; Do NOT have valid taxi permits &gt;&gt; Do NOT pay commercial licence fees or taxes &gt;&gt; Are operating illegally while picking/dropping guests &gt;&gt; Continue to run without fear of challans</p>
<p>This issue has been repeatedly reported to local traffic authorities, but no action has been taken so far. This is unfair to licensed taxi operators and raises serious concerns about passenger safety and law enforcement. Requesting immediate strict action from authorities.</p>
<p><strong>Rocky Lobo</strong></p>
<h2>Encroachment on road</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Encroach_e.jpg" alt="Pics/By Special Arrangement" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Pics/By Special Arrangement</em></strong></p>
<p>The encroachment of a hut on DMonte Road in <strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mid-day-ask-the-govt-autorickshaws-refuse-to-stop-23627615" rel="nofollow">Bandra West</a></strong> is causing a lot of inconvenience for the public. This encroachment was rebuilt after the road was concretised. Despite many complaints to the H-west ward officials no action has been taken&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>A Good Samaritan</strong></p>
<h2>Drug addict nuisance</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Drugs-man_e.jpg" alt="Representation pic/pixabay" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Representation pic/pixabay</em></strong></p>
<p>I wish to bring to your notice a growing menace of alcohol and drug abuse outside the Veer Kotwal Udyan periphery opposite Plaza Cinema, Dadar West. This results in frequent fights and use of foul language during the day and night. A couple of them also carry knives threatening people. It creates a dangerous situation for women and children. Appreciate mid-day&rsquo;s help in highlighting this issue.</p>
<p><strong>A concerned citizen</strong></p>
<h2>BEST bus stops missing</h2>
<p>I stay in the Tardeo area and use the Best Bus Route No 123. I use it on a daily basis for my early morning walks and for my travel to office and back. Post the costal road work the physical bus stops disappeared for many years on the route from Churchgate to Tardeo. There are no physical bus stops for Marine Drive, Tarporewalla Aquarium and Bal Bhavan. Also, can the BEST staff at depot regulate the buses so that no two buses are allowed to leave the depot without sufficient gap between them even if the earlier bus was delayed. The wait then extends to 25 to 30 minutes for the next bus. &nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Mehernosh Jhaveri</strong></p>
<h2>Responses</h2>
<p>After readers sent in their questions and woes to mid-day last Monday, some of the authorities concerned responded. We haven&rsquo;t given up on the rest. We shall continue to hold authorities accountable for the state of the city.</p>
<h2>Traffic out of control</h2>
<p><strong>Reader: Anshul Vora</strong></p>
<p><strong>Response:</strong> Police,<strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mid-day-ask-the-govt-residents-call-for-cleaner-air-clearer-roads-and-a-new-metro-line-23620951" rel="nofollow"> BMC</a></strong>, and traffic police said: According to information from authorities across Police, BMC, and traffic police, the concerns raised for Churchgate junction regarding traffic jams, hawkers on footpaths blocking pedestrian access and speeding motorists is an issue that is being handled at multiple levels with separate government stakeholders.</p>
<p>BMC&rsquo;s Town Vending Committee will ensure dedicated pitches are allotted for hawkers so that footpaths are not blocked. The process of forming a Town Vending Committee is on. The traffic police always assign traffic policemen at the junction to discourage motorists from taking unauthorised U-turns and driving the wrong way.</p>
<p>Bollards have been placed at the media outside Regal Cinema to ensure taxis do not crowd the area. Since this area is a high footfall one with several office spaces, care is being taken to make decisions that uphold the requirements of the area, officials said.</p>
<h2>Racing bikers</h2>
<p><strong>Reader:</strong> Dr Siddharth Chouhan</p>
<p><strong>Response:</strong> Mumbai police said: According to information from the Mumbai police, Bikers using the Marine Drive stretch for speeding, racing, and professional racing during the night time especially on weekends is a problem that the police authorities are trying to tackle.</p>
<p>A senior police official said, &ldquo;This has been a persistent problem that we are aware about. We have tried various innovative ways and will continue to do so, to ensure the problem does not persist.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The official said the solution lies in changing behaviours and thought patterns of those who use this stretch for racing and speeding. He said, &ldquo;These are not hardened criminals who can be arrested and put behind bars. Hence, the solutions we have to explore are more nuanced.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Solutions:</h2>
<p>1 The Mumbai Police has coordinated with the traffic police to place traffic barricades at signals to prevent the availability of a stretch of road for speeding.</p>
<p>2 The official said, &ldquo;Once the offenders are nabbed, we try and impose heavy penalties on them. This is done legally. We will check if they are wearing helmets, of their papers are in place, if their PUC paperwork is in place, their number plates are in correct format, if the driver has a valid licence, etc. The idea is to ensure we can pile on as many offences on the offenders to discourage them from speeding.&rdquo;</p>
<p>3 About one month ago, several super bikes were confiscated by the <strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-police-identify-man-accused-of-stalking-woman-biker-at-marine-drive-23629592" rel="nofollow">Mumbai Police</a></strong>, ranging from a cost of R5 lakh to Rs 49 lakh, for racing on Marine drive at night.</p>
<h2>Hurdles:</h2>
<p>1 An official told mid-day: &ldquo;Excessive chasing by police can lead to accidents. Our aim is to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including the speeding bikers who break the law. Hence innovative ways are being developed to address the problem&rdquo;.</p>
<h2>Dusty Playground</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/may/Garden-a_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Reader: Rebecca Braganza<br />BMC says: A senior civic official said, "We will look into the issue, and water tankers can be assigned to spray water on the playground, if necessary."</p>

mid-day ASK THE GOVT: This week, readers want missing bus stops in South Mumbai to be reinstated, a chronic drug addict nuisance in Dadar to be addressed

mid-day ASK THE GOVT: Why are illegal taxis, encroachments and civic neglect still unchecked?

Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

This week, readers want missing bus stops in South Mumbai to be reinstated, a chronic drug addict nuisance in Dadar to be addressed, and resolution to the issue of private cars being used as taxis in Colaba

mid-day ASK THE GOVT: Why are illegal taxis, encroachments still unchecked?

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