Mumbai: Marine Drive’s milkshake mecca faces the axe

South Mumbai's popular eatery, Bachelorr's, is in the dock as the police want it demolished at the earliest owing to the ‘nuisance caused to traffic and citizens by vehicles parked in front of it'. The police have written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to cancel all licences to the establishment and remove the structure.

The cops have cited traffic congestion caused by the eatery on NS Road, a part of Marine Drive promenade, which is also a VIP route for politicians, bureaucrats, and delegates. The police claim that parking in front of the eatery is dangerous from the point of view of traffic as well as security. Surprisingly, the owners of the eatery have no idea of the recent development and claimed to have learnt about it only from this correspondent.

Bachelorr's was founded in 1932 by one Omprakash and has remained a popular destination for fast-food enthusiasts and visitors to chowpatty. The eatery is famous for its milkshakes, sandwiches and pizzas. The eatery is now maintained by the third generation, but this gathering point of food enthusiasts may likely face the BMC's axe soon.

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People wait outside Bachelorr's. Pic/Atul Kamble

The DB Marg police, under whose jurisdiction the eatery falls, have taken several actions against vehicles parked on the road as well as near the eatery. Just last week there was a visit by the local police along with BMC officials and barricades were set up in front of the eatery. The police recently wrote to BMC officials asking them to remove the structure as soon as possible.

The letter sent by to BMC mentions, "NS Purandare Road is a VIP route and vehicle parking at Bachelorr's creates traffic congestion. There is a need to take permanent action against the establishment. To avoid any untoward incident or loss of life, D ward should revoke all licences granted to the eatery and demolish the illegal structure immediately."

Rajesh Bonde, an accountant working at the eatery for the last 22 years, said, "I am not aware about any such action or proposal for the same from BMC. If this happens, it will affect the livelihood of 20-odd people, including me. To avoid any inconvenience to motorists, barricading has also been set up. I don't know now why they want to take action". Repeated attempts to contact BMC's D ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sharad Ughade and Dr Sangeeta Hasnale failed.

Police Speak
Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhary said, "The location of the establishment is crucial as the road is a VIP route as well as important for citizens. Due to the eatery a lot of vehicles get parked on the road, which causes traffic issues that are hazardous and a threat to citizens. We have written to BMC officials to take immediate action against the establishment."

Owner Speak
Aditya Agarwal, owner of Bachelorr's, said, "I am totally unaware of this. In fact, I am hearing it for the first time from you about this development or proposed action. Our eatery has been running for more than 90 years and I don't understand how we have become a threat to vehicular traffic. Yes, there is traffic congestion on the road but it's due to the coastal road work and pedestrian movement. But holding us responsible for this is totally unjust."

1932
Year Bachelorr's was founded