Mumbai: Girgaon residents protest barricades on Viththalbhai Patel Road, allege emergency access risk

A group of Girgaon residents under the banner of Aamhi Girgaonkar staged a protest early on Sunday alleging that barricades put up during a religious programme blocked Viththalbhai Patel Road and several internal lanes inconveniencing residents and potentially affecting emergency accessThe protest was held between about 430 am and 630 am according to Gaurav Sagwekar president of Aamhi Girgaonkar He said residents objected to barricades placed on Viththalbhai Patel Road and roadslanes numbered 10 to 13 as well as lanes connecting residential buildings and gulliesWhat happenedAamhi Girgaonkar member Vignesh whose mother also lives in Girgaon reportedly left a family gathering midway after receiving a call that her health had deteriorated While returning Vignesh allegedly found barricades tied across the road preventing vehicles from passingHe questioned a group of around 10 to 12 people at the spot about who had authorised the barricades Some reportedly said they did not know who had installed them but claimed they had been put up for an event scheduled for the following day As Vignesh was in a hurry to reach his mother he allegedly dismantled the barricadesAn argument followed after which police arrived at the spot and took him to the police station Shilpa Nayak who was informed about the incident said she then went to the police station ldquoWe were told that permission had been given to put up the barricadesBut on what basis can a public road be completely blocked This is a connecting road and not anyonersquos private propertyrdquo Nayak said She also alleged that different standards were being applied to community events claiming that organisers of some festivals are routinely asked to keep roads clear and comply with police restrictionsWhat the residents allegeAccording to Sagwekar the religious programme has been held in the area for the past few years He said community members move from Chira Bazar towards their religious temple and back after Ganpati accompanied by drums at around 7 am He said residents particularly senior citizens and children have objected to the earlymorning noiseldquoEvery year post Ganpati the community members have their religious programme for which they use drums at 7 am when the group moves from Chira Bazar towards their religious temple and back Senior citizens and children get disturbed by the noiserdquoResidents question permissionsSagwekar said residents approached the police and civic authorities early on Sunday to ask whether permission had been granted for the road blockades He said police cooperated with the residents but questioned the basis for barricading internal lanesldquoWe have to take permissions even for stages mandaps and loudspeakers during our festivals Then why are internal lanes being blocked in this manner Our demand was that emergency access and movement of residents should not be affectedrdquoldquoFor the stage BMC gave its due permission and for the road restrictions we had provided the same considering the event and the marathon The complainant was called to the police station and things were resolved internally No case has been registeredrdquo a police official from VP Road police station saidPolitical backing allegedSagwekar also alleged that the group organising the programme had political backing from a prominent political leader from the area The protest was led locally by Aamhi Girgaonkar officebearers Vignesh Sundar and Shilpa Nayak according to SagwekarWhat residents objected togtgt Viththalbhai Patel Road allegedly blocked by barricadesgtgt Internal lanes and access routes allegedly blockedgtgt Concerns over movement of emergency vehiclesgtgt Inconvenience to residentsgtgt Earlymorning drum beats during the annual religious programmeSagwekar said the residentsrsquo objection was not to the religious activity but to the alleged obstruction of public roads and internal accessldquoOur objection is not to anyone practising their religion The issue is that the main road as well as internal lanes were blocked which could have led to serious inconvenience There is a hospital in the area and the barricades could have posed an obstaclerdquo