From: b sabha <bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com>
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Over-a-week-to-go-for-Ganeshotsav-but-28082016009027 Aug 28 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai) Over a week to go for Ganeshotsav, but pandals already choking roads Richa Pinto Mumbai: ? ? More Approvals Likely This Year: BMC Officials This Ganeshotsav , expect over 1,000 pandals to mess up your road travel. Last year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had granted permissions to around 1,169 Ganpati pandals on roads and footpaths while in 2014, around 1,188 pandals got a nod during the festival. This year, BMC officials are expecting arise in the number of permissions to be granted. Ganeshotsav will begin on September 5. Citizens, however, are furious as they claim that pandals have already started blocking roads despite many of them not having received BMC permissions yet. Robin Viegas, member of Vidyanagari Parisar ALM in Kalina, said, "The main Kalina-Kurla road is in a mess. There is no place for pedestrians to walk as a pandal has occupied most of the road. I pity the BEST drivers who have to navigate their buses through this crammed road. I have been avoiding taking roads." Meanwhile, Loy Dias, vicechairman of Voice of Kalina ALM, said that it's the same story year after year despite strict orders from the high court. "In Vakola, a Ganpati pandal extends up to almost a kilometre. Poles have been erected to light up this pandal and in the bargain, potholes have been created on roads. Once the celebrations end, most of the organizers do no bother to repair the roads," said Dias. In the central suburbs in Matunga and King's Circle, residents say pandals have occupied more than half the road, along with the footpath. Sion-based activist G R Vora said, "While there is still more than a week for the festival to begin, roads have already been blocked by organizers. They have already erected tin sheds for pandals. Motorists have hardly any space to move, lea ding to excessive honking in the area. This only adds to chaos on a stretch that already witnesses traffic jams during peak hours," said Vora. Activist Charles D'sa said at several pandals had already been erected, but on inquiring, it was found that they did not have permissions. " Also, pandals leave just one lane for vehicles to pass," said D'sa. The BMC has started granting permissions to pandals. Though additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh said the number of permissions granted for Ganpati pandals would be more or less same as last year, some officials said the figure is likely to rise. "Only those who have been traditionally getting permissions and new ones who would not cause obstruction to traffic or pedestrians would be granted permissions this year. Permissions are being granted ward wise," said Deshmukh. The BMC has said the penalty on mandals that create potholes will continue to remain Rs 2,000 this year as well. [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/NasData//PUBLICATIONS/THETIMESOFINDIA/MUMBAI/2016/08/28/Photographs/009/28_08_2016_009_027_011.jpg]<http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Over-a-week-to-go-for-Ganeshotsav-but-28082016009027#>
