Mumbai’s first food truck park shut down within a week of opening

Residents of the area around the park in Mumbai had complained against it on Wednesday saying it was commercialising the area

Mumbai’s first food truck park, which was launched on July 14 in Bandra, was shut down on Thursday. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities confirmed that the Bombay Food Truck Company Park didn’t have the permissions required to run the park.

The founder of Bombay Food Truck Company will meet ward officer on Saturday to convince him to reopen the park(Satish Bate/HT)

“H-West ward had not given any permission to the company to run the park. We raided the premises on Thursday and shut it down,” said Sharad Ughade, ward officer, H-West.

However, Royston Misquietta, founder of Bombay Food Truck Company, is hopeful that they will get the issue sorted and the trucks will be back in action soon. They have decided to meet the ward officer on Saturday.

“This is just a temporary provision; the park can’t be kept shut for long. We have been fighting for two years to get a food truck park in Mumbai. Finally, there is one now. It will reopen soon,” Misquietta said.

HT had reported on Wednesday that Perry Road Residents’ Association didn’t want commercial activities in their area and so were against the food truck park. The association also filed a complaint with the BMC chief, police commissioner, transport commissioner and MLA Ashish Shelar.

Acting on the complaint, the BMC raided the place on Thursday and took away certain equipment from the park, compelling them to close. “I am happy that efforts have been made to ensure that commercial activities are kept away from Perry Road. The company managing the park has been asked to keep it shut and I will see to it that there is no inconvenience caused to residents,” said Shelar.

Shelar had also supported the group’s plea in 2015, when they had demanded that no businesses be allowed in their neighbourhood.

However, Anil Joseph, chairperson of the association, demanded strict action and fine against people managing the park.

“They are nothing but sophisticated hawkers, who do not have permissions. Just asking them to shut doesn’t help. Unless their vehicles and equipment are seized and they are fined, they will try to come back again,” said Joseph.