No lights for love birds at Reclamation

Blind lampposts in the stretch from Mahim Causeway to sea link makes couples, motorists feel unsafe at night

City's popular hangout for couples, Bandra Reclamation, has turned unsavoury for them. The motorists who take the route, while driving towards Bandra-Worli Sea Link from Mahim, also claim it is a nightmare to drive through, specially during night.


Blindfloded: Darkness decends on Bandra reclamation centre with
lamposts going blind. Pic/Satyajit Desai

For over a year now, the lampposts along the southbound road of the Reclamation have not been working.
Inspector (Traffic) V L Hiremat of Bandra Division said, "The stretch where lampposts do not work comes under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). We have already written to them, requesting to repair the lights soon."

Motorists say that in the dark, it becomes impossible for them to spot people and vehicles ahead of them on the stretch from Mahim Causeway towards BWSL. Tushar Varik, who works with a private firm in Andheri, said, "The lights haven't been working for over than two years. I don't know what the MSRDC is doing."

Another traffic official, on condition of anonymity, said that there are no lights on the stretch going towards Lilavati hospital from BWSL as well. And in order to restrict mishaps, they have taken to patrolling the stretch and taking action against speeding vehicles.

Those who hang out there say they do not feel safe any more. Bhavin Surti, who frequents the road with his girlfriend, said, "I make it a point to leave the place by 9 pm, as it is risky because of instances in the past where many couples have been robbed at knifepoint."

An executive engineer from MSRDC said, "The lights were in working condition. But drug addicts disconnect the power routinely. They steal and sell the cables to earn money. We have already lodged a police complaint. It is the duty of the police to patrol the area and arrest these anti-social elements."

Incidentally, four alleged drug addicts stabbed a teenager to death in February this year when the victim and his girlfriend were sitting at the Reclamation and refused to give their valuables to them.