Bandra residents protest against Bollywood-themed installations along the Metro 2B line, calling them eyesores and a waste of public funds | File Photo
Mumbai: Protesting against the Bollywood-themed installations below the Metro 2B line, the residents of Bandra, Juhu and Santacruz have now submitted petitions to the authorities, including the MMRDA which is implementing the Rs 350 crore project, demanding to remove the displays.
However, the locals complained that the office of the local MLA, BJP’s Ashish Shelar, refused to accept the petition, while the legislator has denied the claim.
On December 5, The Free Press Journal had reported that the residents had launched an online signature campaign against the metallic installations, dubbing them as eyesores and wasteful expenditure of public money.
Naazish Shah, a resident-activist from Bandra who is at the campaign’s forefront, said, “We have submitted our petitions through email and even sent physical copies to the MMRDA, MMRCL, MMMOCL and the BMC. We plan to meet Shelar regarding our objections.”
Regarding the “non-acceptance” of their petition at the MLA’s office, the citizens asked, “Can an MLA office refuse to receive a letter from a group of people from its own constituency.”
When this newspaper contacted Shelar, he said, “The allegation is false. Anyone can submit their suggestions and objections to me. If I am not available in the office, they can call my PA.” He also said that the objections to the Bollywood-themed installations at Bandra are politically motivated.
“The opposition party objects to every beautification or infrastructure project in Bandra. I have received several emails appreciating the installations, which are planned from the Bandra to Juhu stretch.” In the project’s next phase, tenders will be invited and all work will be done as per rules, he added.
Slamming the initiative earlier, Ex-Congress corporator Asif Zakaria had said that the multi-crore project was initiated without calling tenders or expression of interest.
