The abandoned wings of the government colony at Bandra (East), the single largest land parcel available for development in the western suburbs, have become host to all kinds of clandestine activities, ever since authorities declared 10 sections unsafe and had them evacuated.
After the Public Works Department left the buildings unattended around six months ago, all its removable fittings like taps, door knobs, lights and fans have been slowly vandalised. Currently, the vacant flats have become a hangout spot for couples, drug addicts, gangs, and slumdwellers. Local residents fear something untoward like the Shakti Mills incident might happen here.
"The entire building is being misused. The government servants who were moved out from here have been accommodated in other vacant quarters in the colony. All kinds of anti-social activities happen here," said local Shiv Sena corporator Anil Trimbakkar, who has been following up on the matter with the PWD and police.
Residents of the colony include several personal staff of state ministers. "All kinds of illegal activities go on in the deserted buildings. Many slum dwellers sleep there. It's free space, in a city like Mumbai, who will let it go? With many young couples frequenting the buildings, a Shakti Mills like incident can take place here," said a local resident who refused to be named.
The Rs. 10,000 crore redevelopment of the 100-acre government colony, the biggest in Mumbai, was recently shelved by the government. Built between 1958 and 1968, it has 4000 flats in ground-plus-three-storey buildings. The project, which was being pushed by the NCP, was awarded to three developers in 2010, but failed to take off.
However, the state recently sanctioned Rs 50 crore to repair the buildings occupied by its officers and their families.
Locals have demanded that the PWD deploy security guards and lock the vacated buildings but say there's been no response from the PWD. Chandrakant Patil, Executive Engineer with the PWD did not respond to calls and text messages. However, PWD officials said that the buildings that were vacated were not in a condition to be repaired. "The buildings can't be repaired. They will have to be pulled down and redeveloped. Repairing them will be too expensive. However, the government has not taken up the repair works on priority basis. There are no instructions to deploy security guards," said a PWD official.
Residents have also written to the Kherwadi police demanding security at the deserted buildings. Ashok Kadam, Senior Police Inspector, Kherwadi Police Station said: "We have written to the PWD asking them to deploy security guards outside the abandoned buildings. We have also increased patrolling in the area, especially at night. If there is any kind of trespassing or mischief we will take stern action."
PWD officials visited the colony on Friday "We will deploy security guards and try to install collapsible gates at the vacant buildings. We will also file police complaints for the stolen fittings," a PWD official said.
After the Public Works Department left the buildings unattended around six months ago, all its removable fittings like taps, door knobs, lights and fans have been slowly vandalised. Currently, the vacant flats have become a hangout spot for couples, drug addicts, gangs, and slumdwellers. Local residents fear something untoward like the Shakti Mills incident might happen here.
"The entire building is being misused. The government servants who were moved out from here have been accommodated in other vacant quarters in the colony. All kinds of anti-social activities happen here," said local Shiv Sena corporator Anil Trimbakkar, who has been following up on the matter with the PWD and police.
Residents of the colony include several personal staff of state ministers. "All kinds of illegal activities go on in the deserted buildings. Many slum dwellers sleep there. It's free space, in a city like Mumbai, who will let it go? With many young couples frequenting the buildings, a Shakti Mills like incident can take place here," said a local resident who refused to be named.
The Rs. 10,000 crore redevelopment of the 100-acre government colony, the biggest in Mumbai, was recently shelved by the government. Built between 1958 and 1968, it has 4000 flats in ground-plus-three-storey buildings. The project, which was being pushed by the NCP, was awarded to three developers in 2010, but failed to take off.
However, the state recently sanctioned Rs 50 crore to repair the buildings occupied by its officers and their families.
Locals have demanded that the PWD deploy security guards and lock the vacated buildings but say there's been no response from the PWD. Chandrakant Patil, Executive Engineer with the PWD did not respond to calls and text messages. However, PWD officials said that the buildings that were vacated were not in a condition to be repaired. "The buildings can't be repaired. They will have to be pulled down and redeveloped. Repairing them will be too expensive. However, the government has not taken up the repair works on priority basis. There are no instructions to deploy security guards," said a PWD official.
Residents have also written to the Kherwadi police demanding security at the deserted buildings. Ashok Kadam, Senior Police Inspector, Kherwadi Police Station said: "We have written to the PWD asking them to deploy security guards outside the abandoned buildings. We have also increased patrolling in the area, especially at night. If there is any kind of trespassing or mischief we will take stern action."
PWD officials visited the colony on Friday "We will deploy security guards and try to install collapsible gates at the vacant buildings. We will also file police complaints for the stolen fittings," a PWD official said.
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