16 July,2011 07:11 AM IST | | Akela
Businessmen say Wednesday's vehicle bomb at Zaveri Bazaar third after 1993 and 2003 could have been avoided had the police heeded their repeated complaints
SEVEN precious lives could have been saved and scores of injuries avoided had the traffic police and Mumbai Police heeded Zaveri Bazaar businessmen's repeated complaints against rampant illegal parking in the area.
The businessmen claim they had been demanding that the cars and bikes be removed to prevent further blasts in the crowded market after the 1993 and 2003 attacks and were dismayed to find their worst fears coming true on Wednesday.
More than 1,500 cars are parked illegally in
Zaveri Bazaar at any given time
Kanhaiya Lal Kakkad, president, Dhan Ji Street Traders' Association, said more than 1,500 vehicles were parked in the area at any given time and he had complained in writing about this to the Pydhonie police and traffic police several times.
"In 1993, a scooter was used for a blast and a taxi was used in 2003. I wrote several complaints to the authorities but they didn't listen," Kakkad, who owns J K Brothers in the market, said.
Businessmen complained that private taxis were also parked on Kalba Devi road in as many as three horizontal layers for days at a stretch.
They rued that the taxi owners were thriving because some of their own co-traders hired the taxis to go home to areas like Bhiwandi, Malad and Dahisar every day.
"Hefty bribes from the owners ensure that the police turn a blind eye to the taxis," said a businessman, on condition of anonymity.
The Other Side
"This is not true. We took action against illegal parking in the Zaveri Bazaar area last week itself," said Anil Kumbhare, deputy commissioner of police (Zone-II).
After repeated attempts, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) V Phansalkar finally answered our call and said, "I am in a meeting."
