Powai residents fight for pedestrians’ rights

Worried about the absence of foothpaths on the six-lane Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), residents of Hiranandani, Powai approached the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA). Thanks to their efforts, the east-west corridor now has footpaths for pedestrians.

Worried about the absence of foothpaths on the six-lane Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), residents of Hiranandani, Powai approached the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA). Thanks to their efforts, the east-west corridor now has footpaths for pedestrians.

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“Through weekly visits and constant follow up with the MMRDA officials, we ensured that the footpaths were built,” said Elsie Gabriel, resident, who also heads the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust.

They also ensured that maximum trees were incorporated in the footpaths instead of being hacked. To compensate for every tree that could not be incorporated, they planted two saplings in the vicinity of Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon.

MMRDA officials, however, said that the interactions with residents were just a part of their consultation process.

“The footpaths were always a part of the original plan drafted by the MMRDA. The meetings were to get suggestions to improve the design,” said Vikas Tondwalkar, joint project director, environment, MMRDA.

The residents now want to get rid of the garbage along the footpaths near Powai Lake.