Pedestrians will soon have a smooth, hassle-free walk in the crowded subways at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Churchgate.
Pedestrians will soon have a smooth, hassle-free walk in the crowded subways at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Churchgate. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued eviction notices to all shop owners in the CST subway, asking them to vacate the premises within 30 days. The civic body had already asked shops in Churchgate subway to vacate the premises.
According to civic officials, there are 51 shops in the subway at CST while the Churchgate subway has 22 shops. They are used by lakhs of commuters every day, making them one of the busiest pedestrian subways in the city. However, there were complaints that the owners had sub-leased their shops to others at astronomical rates. Illegal hawkers doing business in front of these shops were also seen creating obstacles for pedestrians.
Taking note of this, civic chief Ajoy Mehta had directed civic officials to make both the subways hawker-free to ensure a smooth ride for commuters. “The BMC has issued notices to shop owners in both CST and Churchgate subways. Though we were getting revenue from them, the decision has been taken in larger public interest. The shops and hawkers will be moved out for the convenience of people,” said Sanjay Kurhade, assistant municipal commissioner (markets).
Local Shiv Sena corporator Ganesh Sanap, in several markets and garden committee meetings, had raised the issue of removal of shops from the subways. “The purpose for which these subways were built was not served as most of the place was gobbled up by shop owners and hawkers creating trouble for pedestrians. As far as revenue loss is concerned, the BMC can recover it by putting up advertisement hoardings inside the subways,” he said.
The CST subway, which has an area of 2,870 square metres and was built at a cost of '15 crore, was thrown open to public in September 1999. The Churchgate subway had become operational in the year 1991. Temporary licences were given to the shopkeepers in both the subways.
After the evacuation of shop owners and hawkers, the civic body has plans to improve ventilation and cleanliness at the CST subway on the lines of Metro Cinema junction subway, which has no shops. Security guards will also be deployed to ensure that there are no illegal hawkers and encroachers, said a senior civic official.
