Councillors voted to power by those who had planned to boycott polls vow to fix festering issues;
Residents of Ruia Park Apartments pose in front of their building on Military Road in Juhu. File pic/Satej Shinde
Residents of Devipada in Borivali East had resolved to vote only for a candidate who would address their long-pending water crisis. In contrast, residents of Ruia Park Apartments in Juhu had initially decided to boycott the polls after their entry and exit gate was blocked by people from neighbouring Mora Gaon. However, they later changed their stand after candidates reached out to them and mid-day highlighted their grievances, eventually exercising their franchise on polling day. mid-day spoke to the winning candidates from these areas, who outlined their plans of action and the commitments made during the campaign.
1. Ruia Park Apartments
Around 100 residents of a society in Juhu West had initially decided to boycott the polls. However, all of them eventually voted after the candidate assured them that their grievances would be addressed.
Rohan Rathod, BJP
Residents alleged that their entry and exit gate was being blocked by people from neighbouring Mora Gaon, while illegal hawkers operated at the same spot and garbage was routinely dumped there. They further claimed that repeated complaints to the BMC, Juhu police, and traffic police had failed to yield any solution. The society is home to several celebrities.
Residents’ demands
Residents of Ariana Residency in Devipada, Borivali East, pose in front of one of the tankers they depend on daily due to a long-standing water pressure issue. File pic/Nimesh Dave
>> The road should be widened to allow vehicles to move smoothly without traffic congestion.
>> The BMC should place garbage bins so Mora Gaon residents do not dump waste on the road.
>> Traffic police should take action against bikers who park in double and triple rows, blocking the road.
>> The BMC should repair potholes and maintain hygiene on the road.
>> The BMC should impose fines on those who litter on the road.
>> Remove illegal hawkers who were blocking the road.
Winner: Rohan Rathod, BJP
Speaking to mid-day, BJP candidate Rohan Rathod said, “I won the BMC election with 12,992 votes. The residents trusted me, and it is because of their support that I emerged victorious.”
He added, “My priority will be to construct a new road for residents of Ruia Park and Mora Gaon. I will also ensure the availability of garbage bins in the area and coordinate with the traffic police to take strict action against vehicles parked in double and triple rows that block the road. Ruia Park residents will not face such problems in the future. We will also act against illegal hawkers who obstruct the roads.”
2. Ariana residency
Around 1300 residents of Ariana Residency in Borivali have been facing a severe water shortage for the past three years and are forced to order four water tankers, spending nearly Rs 16,000 per day.
Sarika Zore, Shiv Sena (UBT)
Residents’ demands
>> The water shortage issue should be resolved, and society should receive an adequate water supply.
>> Roads in the area should be widened so that emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire engines, can enter without traffic congestion.
>> Check the pipeline installed by the BMC that supplies water to residents.
Winner: Sarika Zore, Shiv Sena (UBT)
Speaking to mid-day, Sarika Zore said, “I won this election with 11,332 votes, and I am extremely happy and grateful to all the residents who believed in me. It is now my responsibility to fulfil all the promises I made.”
Housing societies in Juhu within a 500-metre radius of an Army wireless transmission station. PICS/NIMESH DAVE
She added, “My priority will be to resolve the water shortage at Ariana Residency. I will also work on widening roads in the Devipada area so that emergency vehicles can access the locality easily. I aim to ensure overall development of the area.” Zore further said, “I will personally check with the engineers to see if there is any fault in the water pipeline. Residents must receive sufficient water. We will replace the pipeline if needed.
3. Various Juhu societies
Around 200 societies, which come under a 500-metre radius of an Army wireless transmission station, decided to boycott the BMC election as their buildings couldn’t be redeveloped, but most residents cast their votes after the local candidates assured them that the station would be shifted.
Sudha Singh, BJP
In 1976, a notification, SRO-150, was issued in the gazette, which was passed by the government stating that construction is not allowed above 15.24 meters by the Ministry of Defence. However, now corporators from this area are giving assurance that the work will be done very soon, and this entire system will be shifted to somewhere else.
Residents’ demands
>> Remove the restriction of redevelopment of societies at Juhu area, which comes under the 500 yards radius of the military defence land.
>> Not to take any action against those who already redeveloped their residential societies before 2010.
>> Till the decisions comes the government should allow them to add lifts in the societies, as many 3-4 floor societies do not have lifts in the society.
Winner: Sudha Singh, BJP
Sudha Singh said, “I won this election with 10,492 votes. I promised residents that if elected, I would fight to have the military signalling system shifted from this area. Most residents are elderly, and their children live abroad. The society does not have a lift, and the overall condition of the building is poor.”
“We are continuing to meet with MLA Amit Satam, and they are helping us. The work is already in the pipeline. It will soon be completed, after which societies will be able to go in under redevelopment.”
Rs 16,000
Amount Ariana Residency in Borivali is forced to spend on water tankers per day
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