Civic body, MMRDA slugfest over illegal police outpost

The traffic police chowkie built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Development Authority (MMRDA) below the Sion flyover is illegal.

Last December, the municipal corporation wrote to the development authority asking them to stop work.

SY Kurhade, ward officer, F-North ward, confirmed writing to the MMRDA asking them to obtain necessary permissions before continuing with the construction work.

The matter was brought to light thanks to efforts of residents like Nikhil Desai.

Desai, an activist from Matunga, had been opposing construction of the chowkie since the first brick was laid in 2009. However, the civic body didn’t pay attention, as the MMRDA hadn’t handed over the bridge to BMC, he claimed.

Desai said any kind of construction under the bridge was bound to cause inconvenience to civic officials as it becomes difficult for them to undertake maintenance work. The letter also stated that several people were living illegally under the bridge and dirtying the area, resulting in spread of diseases.

However, the MMRDA claims the structure was a temporary one to replace the police chowkie below the Aurora flyover.

“We have handed it over to the police. It is up to them to take requisite permissions,” said Dilip Kawathkar, joint director PR, MMRDA.

Last week, the circular issued by the civic chief directed the building proposal department to undertake a survey and make a list of all illegal structures that built without permission.