Mumbai: Borivli shopkeepers shut 2,000 shops to protest barricaded crossings

For the first time in 40 years, around 2000 shops in Indraprastha Shopping Centre and Thakkar Shopping Centre located on SV Road, shut down for three hours to protest against the BMC, traffic police and Borivli cops for barricading 12 pedestrian crossings outside Borivli railway station. The authorities claim the barricades have helped reduce traffic on the SV Road stretch. However, shopkeepers told mid-day that lakhs of passengers use these crossings daily to access platforms no. 2 and no. 3 via Indraprastha Shopping Centre, and the barricades must be removed immediately. A massive crowd of shopkeepers from Borivli East and West joined the protest rally. Just a month ago, the BMC, along with the police, blocked 12 crossings with railings. Shopkeepers say the situation worsened after the crossing in front of Indraprastha Shopping Centre used by lakhs of commuters was barricaded. Official Speak DCP Sandeep Jadhav (Zone XI) told mid-day, We received multiple complaints about heavy traffic on SV Road outside Borivli railway station from Jambli Gully to Chandavarkar Road. We held a meeting with the BMC and decided to barricade 12 crossings along this stretch using railings. We also barricaded the crossing in front of Indraprastha Shopping Centre, which many people were using. Barricades installed by the authorities with policemen standing guard Jadhav asserted that the authorities understand it is initially difficult to adjust to the change, but people will get used to it in two to three months. Traffic has already reduced by almost 60-70 per cent due to these barricades. We feel shopkeepers should wait for a little more time. Their customers are not going anywhere, he said. If we reopen these crossings, traffic will increase again. Earlier, even emergency vehicles would get stuck here. We dont want anyone to suffer. The barricade near Indraprastha Shopping Centre was installed just a week ago, Jadhav added. Shopkeepers say... Lalit Jain, chairman of Borivali Businessmen Association (BBA), and shop owner at Indraprastha Shopping Centre, said, More than 2000 shops shut down for three hours on Wednesday morning. The road was seen relatively traffic-free after the barricading These barricades must be removed because Indraprastha Shopping Centre also provides entry and exit to platforms no. 2 and no. 3. How will customers reach us if they come by bike or car? They have to take a U-turn almost 300 metres away near Borivli police station, which is not possible for everyone. What shopkeepers are demanding >> Reopen all crossings from Jambli Gully to Chandavarkar Road>> Crossings should be at least 2-feet-wide for easy movement>> Allow two-way traffic from LT Road to SV Road>> Regular police and BMC presence to prevent hawkers from encroaching>> Action against hawkers passing lewd comments on women>> To make the station area a hawker-free zone>> Maintain discipline in autorickshaw queues What authorities say about move >> The barricades will not be removed>> Traffic has reduced by nearly 60-70 per cent>> Action is being taken against hawkers>> People need 2-3 months to adapt to alternative routes>> Traffic police officials deployed, taking action against illegal parking on SV Road ‘Remove the barricades Shopkeepers Vinod Gada, secretary, BBA‘We are losing customers due to these barricades. Senior citizens are facing difficulties. The BMC and police should take action against illegal hawkers who are causing a nuisance in the area Mukesh Mehta, president, Borivli Businessmen Association‘People catch their trains on time because Indraprastha Shopping Centre is a shortcut to the station. We want the barricades removed and crossings reopened Amit Makhija, owner, Smart Guys Menswear‘We demand proper planning. In the last 40 years, this is the first time we shut our shops and protested. Barricades are affecting business Locals Shivraj Manjrekar‘I travel by bike daily on this route. It is always prone to traffic jams, but now this road is traffic-free. Its good decision by the BMC and police Pratik Kedar‘The BMC and traffic cops took the correct decision by blocking the crossings. I travel by four-wheeler and would always get stuck in traffic for at least 15-20 minutes to cross this SV Road stretch. Now it hardly takes 5 minutes. The station area should always be kept traffic-free. Viraj Ghanekar‘I used to park my bike at Indraprastha Shopping Centre and go to office by train. Its difficult to enter Indraprastha due to the barricades, and now I end up wasting time looking for alternate parking space