Southern discomfort

Colaba residents acknowledge easing of security barricades in the area but remain wary about whether this is a temporary measure

The barriers finally broke and a flood of emotions like ire, fury and frustration were let loose yesterday afternoon.

Colaba residents, shop owners, cab drivers, Gateway boatwallahs andu00a0 even some tonga wallahs came together to protest the closing of roads in the vicinity near the Taj Mahal hotel. Certain access roads surrounding the hotel have been barricaded for security reasons.


Coming together for a protest at Azad Maidan yesterday

No access has had huge ramifications for all those who live and work in the area. A slew of awareness drives, complaints and newspaper reports have been appearing with regularity throwing light on the Colaba problem.
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Yesterday evening, Colabawallahs if one could categorise them that way, marched into Azad Maidan opposite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) building to bring about awareness about what they called, 'the right to walk free'.

As the afternoon traffic roared outside, and onlookers peered curiously looking at several white collar professionals who had left their air-conditioned offices behind to brave the heat and unfurl posters highlighting their grievances. The Colaba protest group cut through the noise to shout in unison, "Taj ki dadagiri nahi chalegi"(we will not stand for Taj's bullying).

The common emotion that bound the group together, all with certain problems arising from the barricading unique to them like the residents face traffic and parking problems, the shops and restaurants are reporting a fall in business, the boat owners, tonga wallahs and cabbies claim they find it difficult to get business, was a sense of indignation. Local corporator Vinod Shekar who was part of the protest encapsulated, "Taj seems to have become mightier than all."

Meanwhile, STRANDMARG association comprising building residents around the now defunct Strand cinema (near the Taj) stated in a letter to all summing up the mood of the moment, "If shutting roads is the solution for terrorism, then Mumbai must be shut down. We have all come to love and patronise the Taj and wish the organisation well but not at the cost of our roads and harassment.'

There was some rousing talk and cheer because several residents claimed that the media reports and public pressure had resulted in several barricades being moved from the roads on Tuesday morning itself, "we are free" said some. Yet, resident and STRANDMARG member, Ajay Multani stated, "We do not know yet whether those barricades that have been removed are just be a temporary measure.

We need to wait and watch." Resident Arif Khan added in anger, "The hotel needs to have proper security inside its own premises, the road outside is not owned by the hotel. Earlier, I remember walking down roads that were completely free, now, at least one road in the area has been completely taken over. It gives rise to fears that other roads too may be similarly blocked."

When told that the roads had been blocked off for security reasons as has been cited in the past, the irked residents asked, "We are not against security. Security, but at what cost? At the citizens' cost?" They also raised a valid point saying, "The 26/11 terror attacks happened two years ago.
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These roads have been 'taken over' or blocked by barricades ever since US president Obama's visit late last year. So what about security concerns all those months after 26/11 before Obama's visit?"

Preeti Bedi, who owns the Mitter Bedi studio in the vicinity (she is the famous photographer's daughter) scoffed at the idea of security. "Let me tell you there have been several robberies from shops and businesses in these past three months too. We are hemmed in and it is telling on our business that is the tangible effect.
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What is not immediately apparent is the effect on our spirit. Imagine driving to work everyday wondering which road you would be able to drive down, where you would be able to park your car, may be in some obscure by lane or even whether you would have to have an argument with the police.

When 26/11 happened, the post three months were chaotic, they hurt us badly but we accepted it. Now, though every time a Very Very Important Person (VVIP) comes into the Taj these barricades and restrictions are slammed into our lives."

Preeti gave an anecdote of how the barricades took the sheen off her Diwali festivities. "I remember during the Diwali festival, I started walking towards my studio with a thali in my hand.

It was a pooja thali. My mother and daughter were with me. We, three generations, were going to do Lakshmi Pooja at my workplace like every year. We were stopped by personnel who told me to go and take permission from the police (station).

Eventually, I was allowed to go but only after a fight. The day began on an unpleasant note."

When asked though if everybody felt safer in some way with all the security in the area, Preeti retorted, "write it if you can -- bull...t"

Meanwhile Professor Nandini Sardesai, resident of the Corinthian building near Strand Cinema, Colaba said, "The traffic bottlenecks have increased. Earlier, I would take three minutes to reach my home from Regal Cinema. Now, conservatively I take at least 15." There was a groundswell of opinion that local residents should have been taken into consideration when security measures were put in place.

Shekar said, "Three days ago we approached the local police station for permissions to hold a protest near the Taj hotel. We were denied permission as there is some High Court restriction. So, we are holding the protest at Azad Maidan as we were told this is the designated area.

Today (Tuesday) morning is a big victory for us because some of the barricades have been removed. It proves whenever people revolt, there are results. Yet, let me also tell people that this is just the beginning. We have to see if this is permanent.

Today, we have a mixed group of very educated persons and those who may not be educated in the literal sense but are very aware and have a lot of civic sense." Then, Shekar said rather theatrically, "This proves that people power will prevail and democracy is alive."

Not everybody though shared Shekar's rosy picture. Ankush Singh, an employee of an upmarket eatery on Colaba grumbled that patronage had fallen because of these security measures, while Cool Cab drivers were roiled about how these measures had stemmed the flow of passengers for them. They said angrily, "We had a cab stand near the Taj.

It has been there since the British time and we have been cab drivers most of us, for 30-35 years. We used to park our Cool Cabs there and our passengers comprisedu00a0 hotel guests. Since a few months, we have been asked to move out. Where do we park our cabs? We are not getting any fare and our earnings have fallen dramatically.

As it is, all our details, name, cab number, badge number are all there with the local police station. What more security do they want?" They were of the opinion that the hotel had used security as a ruse to wean away their guests from using Cool Cabs and using the hotel cabs instead.

"They want to take over the stand," they said and, "stop us from plying. We were the ones who ferried certain injured persons to hospital during 26/11 free of charge as a service, now this is the treatment meted out to us," they claimed bitterly.

While on hospitals,u00a0 Wilson Lawrence of the Kalajot Hospital (behind the hotel, opposite the Singapore Airlines office) stated that the hospital staff had to at times use wheelchairs to bring patients in from the road as, "they are told to walk."

The hospital is a general and heart hospital. Wilson claimed the staff was facing untold harassment and problems because of these restrictions.

As the afternoon gave way to evening and peak hour traffic descended in front of the Azad Maidan the group dispersed having made their point. Shekar claimed they were going to meet the municipal commissioner post the protest.

The residents asked as a parting shot before calling it a day, "If any of our residential buildings had been attacked like the Taj was would we have got this kind of security? The Chabad House was attacked but the road in front of it is opened."

What they say
The STRANDMARG association asks
Since the beginning of November, through the Diwali festival, all roads leading towards the Taj and The Gateway were sealed off. Overnight, residents and small business owners were virtually prisoners of the Taj. Arterial roads, by lanes are blocked off at will.. but at whose will we ask?

Points they make
Residents have raised certain points in a circular to all in the area
There is no excuse for bringing the public road into private domain.
Mumbai has been hit by terrorism. Yet, the Mumbai roads have not been shut.
Neither have the roads outside the CST, Oberoi Hotel or Nariman House been shut.