Chandivali 90Ft DP Road: After Protest, Hunger Strike & Jhoot Bolo Cake Cutting, Residents To Organise 'Sadbuddhi Havan' To Mark 3rd Anniversary Of BMC Inaction

Chandivali residents have taken matters into their own hands to urge the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to construct a much-needed 90ft public road. The road, which connects Chandivali Farm Road to the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) as per Mumbai's development plan (DP) of 1990, has been delayed for three years despite multiple attempts by residents to draw the BMC's attention.

In a bid to seek divine intervention, the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) has announced a 'Sadbuddhi Havan' to be held on Sunday, marking the third anniversary of the BMC's announcement of the road. The Havan, a Vedic ritual praying for good sense and divine wisdom, serves as the residents' last resort after being driven to their limits by years of official apathy and traffic congestion.

The road's delay has resulted in a crumbling civic infrastructure, with only one-third of the 600m road being built since its tender was floated three years ago. Residents have resorted to peaceful protests, a hunger strike, and even a sarcastic 'jhoot bolo' cake-cutting ceremony to highlight the BMC's broken promises. The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission has also taken notice of the issue, expressing concern over the violations of residents' human rights due to the delays.

The residents' plight has been exacerbated by the BMC's aggressive approval of massive residential and commercial projects in the Powai-Chandivali belt, leading to gridlocked traffic and strained civic services.