‘Enter the ration office at your risk’

At the ration office located in Andheri east, the banner placed at the entrance of the office warns people entering the premises to do so at their own risk.

At the ration office located in Andheri east, the banner placed at the entrance of the office warns people entering the premises to do so at their own risk.

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The warning was strong enough to prompt action by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which served a notice to the building owners asking them to vacate the premises.

The banner, which warns of an imminent collapse of the severely decrepit building, has been placed at the entrance of the office since September 2010. The three-storey building, which houses the ration office and regional office of rationing, is adjacent to the Andheri station.

The banner reads, “the building is in ruinous condition and is likely to fall and dangerous by the same reason. Therefore, the public at large is hereby cautioned not to enter the premises of the rationing office. Whosoever enters the premises is entering at his/her own risk to life and their limbs.”

The building employs around 70 people and sees nearly 75 to 100 visitors on a daily basis. “The condition was very serious last monsoon. There are leakages and it is dangerous for people like us who work here,” said Sanjay Savardekar, rationing inspector, (D region).

However, the authorities have assured immediate action. “We will get the building repaired through the Public Works Department (PWD) immediately,” said Yashwant Kirude, controller of rationing, Mumbai.

“I have been assured of immediate repairing by our controller and we look forward to it,” said Pramod Salve, deputy controller of rationing, (D Region).