Mumbai: Dadar Parsi Colony has been turned into 'Parking Colony'

A high court order has inadvertently turned the Dadar Parsi Colony into the Dadar Parking colony Miffed with all kinds of taxis parking in its premises after they were not allowed to park under the Khodadad flyover and causing a great nuisance to residents the colonys residents wrote to the local police and the BMC in November seeking an end to the issue They have got no respite yetThe Bombay High Court disallowed parking underneath flyovers in February 2016 because of security concerns Because of that cabbies have shifted from parking underneath the Khodadad Circle flyover to the ColonyCabbies have shifted from parking under the flyover to Dadar Parsi ColonyThis has angered residents of the iconic community housing enclave in Dadar East who first sent an anguished letter about their grievances to the Sion Police Station The letter cited that private taxi aggregators black and yellow cabs and other cabs are parking in the colony causing a great nuisance to residents especially those of Katrak Firdoshi Khareghat and Mancherji Joshi roads within the colony Their letter went on to say that cabs are being parked haphazardly blocking traffic within the colony and not giving its residents any space to park their carsResidents Darayus who goes by his first name Zarine Engineer Dilly Dalal Anjali Cooper Zinobia Schroff Sunita Davar and Nikhil Desai said The problem started after parking under flyovers was stopped by a High Court order We appreciate this security measure yet a majority the cabs that used to be parked under the Khodadad flyover have now made Dadar Parsi Colony their home This has become a free parking spotGarden pardonWhen midday visited the flyover underneath which cabs used to be parked it was clear of vehicles and shuttered from one side The cab booking office though was functionalA staffer sat at the ticket window for MumbaiPune cabs and said sarcastically Bageecha bana rahe hain pareshaan kar diya A garden is being made here we have been troubled because of no parkingSaid Dadar colony resident Dilly Dalal We have become a soft target because the community is so peaceful we do not stoop to rowdy protests or resort to hooliganism Instead these Parsis believe in the power of the pen Another letter was sent in November to the BMCs assistant engineer of the waterworks department FNorth Ward which encapsulated residents arguments about cab parking bringing in social illsThis letter read There is an illegal racket on at Katrak Road Junction A flower merchant draws water illegally from a toilet meant for shopkeepers and then the cabs are cleaned Residents pointed out the huge amount of cab washing makes the roads slippery and has turned the place into an illegal taxi stand They stated that cab parking has a domino effect it leads to problems like drinking and other antisocial behaviourResidents said angrily that There is double and triple parking because of these cabs and we have been rendered helpless against this Desai added Despite complaints the system is not responding to the problemLocals were also in no mood to hum dil garden garden ho gaya when told that a beautiful garden is going to come up under the flyover which they could access pointing to at least 14 gardens within the colony itself Cooper said Authorities should have found an alternate and viable parking space before shutting the parking underneath the flyoverNo solutionAmey Gole the corporator for Dadar Parsi Colony said he has had several meetings with residents but nothing has come out of them Gole added I am in fact incharge of the garden coming up underneath the flyover The design is almost complete it looks like the streets of ParisGole added Having said that I do know the problems being caused by parked cabs and have spoken to the police about these The police though had a negative attitude and said they could not move the cabs out of the colony Cops have to ensure the cabs move out not the BMC We do have other parking spaces in the area All of this is extremely difficult as I have been repeatedly told there is no solution finished GoleAlso readMumbai Construction noise leads to brawl at Dadar Parsi ColonyCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates