BMC opens seafood plaza at Carter Road promenade despite residents' opposition
Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from citizens and civic groups, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has opened a seafood plaza at Carter Road promenade, citing cultural promotion of the indigenous koli (fisher) community. The food plaza, launched on May 2, will feature seafood stalls managed by koli women self-help groups and will be open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
According to BMC officials, the initiative aims to preserve and promote the traditional coastal culture of Mumbai's original inhabitants–the kolis. However, several resident groups have raised concerns about the food plaza's legality and its impact on the environment and public safety.
The Impact Group, a coalition of citizens from the Bandra-Khar-Santacruz areas, alleged that the plaza was established in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The group claimed the project proceeded despite repeated objections from local residents and people who regularly go for walks on the promenade, who view the development as an encroachment on public recreational space.
Further raising the stakes, the group also accused the BMC of allowing illegal cooking practices at the site, including the use of gas cylinders and open flames, which they claimed are prohibited in public areas as per civic guidelines. They also claimed the food plaza is operating without mandatory permissions, such as a no-objection certificate from the fire department and a health department licence.
'Is the BMC actively promoting illegality?' questioned a spokesperson from the Impact Group, pointing to increasing litter and unmanaged waste along the promenade as signs of environmental degradation and mismanagement.
Dinesh Pallawad, assistant commissioner of the BMC's H West ward, defended the initiative. 'We have allowed koli women to operate only thrice a week. There are no cooking arrangements on-site. Food is prepared off-site and sold at the stalls. We've taken into account citizen concerns and have deployed staff to ensure cleanliness and prevent littering. Alcohol is not permitted, and conditions have been laid down to regulate the operation,' he said.
However, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has taken cognisance of the residents' complaints. On May 13, the authority directed the Mumbai suburban collector to conduct a thorough verification of the food plaza's compliance with CRZ regulations and past court orders. The MCZMA has requested a detailed report within 15 days and has asked for appropriate action if violations are confirmed.
The matter has divided public opinion. While many residents have opposed the food plaza, some seasoned activists and longtime residents of the area have expressed support for it.
'The food plaza is on the extended part of the promenade, leading towards the koli area itself and, honestly, I see nothing wrong with it,' said a local activist, who requested anonymity. 'I distinctly remember reading a government resolution from the 1980s that stated the first right to the seafront belongs to the kolis, specifically for purposes like parking their boats, repairing nets, drying their catch, and other fishing-related activities.'
The activist further said that this extended part of the promenade was built much later in 2018, essentially an afterthought, and came up on a reclaimed shoreline leading to the koli area.
'So if, for a couple of days a week, koli fisherwomen are allowed to sell their fresh catch here, giving citizens access to affordable seafood, far cheaper than what's sold at the food stalls across the road, I think it's completely fair. They're not occupying road space illegally like street hawkers. If they were doing this from mobile vans or obstructing traffic, I might have a different view. But in this context, I believe it's not only acceptable but it's empowering for these women, who are also the original inhabitants of Mumbai,' the activist added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
3 years after it was carved, no office for P-East ward
Mumbai: Three years after splitting P-North Ward into two, BMC is still struggling to find an office for the newly carved P-East ward. With BMC elections around the corner, BJP has demanded that BMC acquire a plot of land in Malad (east) to construct a new office for P-East ward. In 2023, the state govt said BMC was awaiting a 40,000 sq ft constructed area in a Slum Rehabilitation Authority project, but it didn't work out. So far, the new ward office hasn't started, and residents have to visit the old P-North ward office for routine work. P-North ward, which earlier covered Malad, Goregaon, and Kandivli, was the most populous ward in the city with a population of around 13 lakh. Following a demand from former BJP corporator Vinod Mishra, minister Ashish Shelar of BJP last week asked BMC officials to construct the new P-East ward office. "Despite the state govt issuing orders, BMC has delayed constructing a new ward office. As a result, people from Malad (east) have to spend a long time besides having to pay Rs 100 to get to the ward office in Malad (west). So we have demanded a ward office in Malad (east). A private plot reserved for a municipal chowky is ideal for the P-East ward office as it is close to Malad (east) railway station, Pathanwadi bus stop, and Dindoshi Metro station," said Mishra, who is following up on the ward office issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investire è più facile che mai BG SAXO Scopri di più Undo BMC officials said that some temporary offices offering some civic services are operating from Ram Leela Maidan, Malad (east). "But this office is also not accessible and takes more than 45 minutes to reach from Malad (east). For all other services, residents have to go to the old P-North ward office, in Malad (west), near Liberty Garden. It is more than 5 km away from Malad (east). Also, there is only one assistant municipal commissioner for the old and new wards," Mishra said. "The fastest option is to acquire this private plot and construct the ward office. We have asked BMC to temporarily start a functional ward office for basic amenities like war works and solid waste management in an existing structure," Mishra said. BMC split up the former combined ward into two since providing civic amenities — water supply, sanitation, and citizen services was a challenge due to the vast area and high population.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Uddhav Thakeray holds dinner meet with Sena UBT MPs, MLAs to discuss preparations for Mumbai civic polls
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray engaged in dinner diplomacy with all his MPs and MLAs from Mumbai late on Friday and asked them to hit the ground running for the BMC polls. With the BMC elections , slated for Oct-Nov, Uddhav asked all his MPs and MLAs from Mumbai to devote time to the party and take up people's issues with various authorities. All were asked to pay special attention to party activities. The Sena (UBT) has three Lok Sabha MPs from Mumbai and 10 MLAs. The dinner meeting was held at Bandra's Taj Lands End Hotel. Party functionaries said that with the monsoon sessions of Parliament and the state legislature starting soon, Uddhav told MPs and MLAs to take an aggressive stand against the BJP-led ruling coalitions at the centre and in the state. "Uddhavji asked all MPs and MLAs from Mumbai to take up issues and also take officials to task for failing to resolve people's issues. He focused on the importance of holding the state govt and other agencies like BMC accountable for lack of governance, infrastructure, and rural distress. He said these are ways through which the opposition can reclaim lost ground. He instructed all of them to actively participate in party work and outreach campaigns in their constituencies, urging them to focus on booth-level planning, voter list updating, and youth mobilisation," the functionary said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo On the tie-up with Raj Thackeray's MNS, Uddhav told the MPs and MLAs that they must prepare to fight BMC polls independently, but at the same time remain open to strategic tie-ups. He said that he already asked grassroots workers to get feedback from the people and apprise him of the people's mood.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
BMC to integrate Mumbai Coastal Road, Atal Setu into ward boundaries
Mumbai: As BMC's election and assessment departments have begun the ward formation process, land reclaimed and carved out under major infrastructure projects, including Mumbai Coastal Road and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link or Atal Setu , will now be formally integrated into municipal ward boundaries, said civic officials. These new land parcels did not exist during the last BMC elections held in 2017 — both the coastal road and Atal Setu were inaugurated in 2024. In the case of Atal Setu, a newly created 0.35-hectare land parcel will be added to wards within the Mumbai city area, said civic officials. For Mumbai Coastal Road, 111 hectares reclaimed from the Arabian Sea will be integrated into specific corporator wards. For instance, the land reclaimed for the coastal road stretches from the administrative wards D to G-South, which comprise six and seven corporator wards, respectively. The state urban development department had recently directed municipal commissioners to finalise new draft ward boundaries. BMC's assessment department staff have been extensively deployed for this exercise, which will continue till the first week of Sept. "On an average, a BMC corporator ward has 54,000 the staff on ground is certifying whether the ward boundaries are demarcated appropriately and there are proper separation indicators whether a bridge, nullah or railway track. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This is all specified and sent to the BMC. All the boundaries will be superimposed on Google Maps and then the staff will again check the same on ground. There will also be a public suggestion and objection process before the ward boundaries are finalised," said a civic officer privy of the entire process. BMC polls may be held in Oct or Nov. BMC has been functioning without an elected body for over three years now.
