BMC demolishes garage, marriage hall over encroachment on fire station land

MUMBAI: BMC’s K-West ward on Monday demolished an unauthorised garage and marriage hall operating from Chitrakoot Grounds on Link Road, Andheri. The action followed complaints that the premises had encroached on open space reserved for a fire station.Local BJP corporator Rupesh Sawarkar said he had been pursuing the issue since his election earlier this year. He said he found that the encroachments had also extended onto a portion of the land reserved for the proposed fire station and had been urging the civic authorities to act.Monday’s demolition, Sawarkar said, takes the locality “one step closer” to getting a full-fledged fire station. The area currently lacks one, a concern given the high-density residential belt along Lokhandwala and Link Road.Sawarkar said he is now pursuing the authorities to expedite the process of developing the fire station so that construction can begin at the earliest. “The land is being freely used for wedding functions, film shoots and turf cricket activities through lease arrangements, leading to financial irregularities,” said Sawarkar.Dhaval Shah from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association said that there has been a reservation in the BMC’s Development Plan for a fire station since 1991.“The BMC should continue the momentum and make it a reality as lakhs of Versova Assembly residents need it. With massive skyscrapers in the making, fire safety must be a top priority,” he said, adding that the absence of a nearby fire station has affected emergency response times in the area, resulting in delays during fire incidents and increasing the risk of loss of life and property.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in MumbaiStay updated with the latest Mumbai news. Download the TOI App.