BMC elections 2026: Vakola-Kalina residents make poll candidates promise action

Residents of St Anthony Street Welfare Association from the VakolaKalina area along with members of the Voice of Kalina Association invited all candidates contesting Ward No 91 in the upcoming BMC elections for a meeting on Sunday eveningDuring the meeting residents demanded that the candidates address longpending civic issues including broken and encroached footpaths illegal hawkers debris dumping pollution development of education facilities such as schools and colleges and zero tolerance for corruptionThe residents took written and videorecorded assurances from all candidates stating that if elected they would resolve these issues Speaking with midday all candidates said they had promised to address these concerns after winning the election The residents said they wanted to understand the candidatesrsquo views and intentions so they could vote accordinglyPoints raised by residentsgtgt In some areas Kalina Sunder Nagar Vakola Naka KurlaKalina Road and Santacruz roads are repeatedly dug up even after completion of work proper reinstatement is not carried out resulting in traffic congestion increased risk of accidents and inconveniencegtgt Several illegal constructions and encroachments have come up in the Kalina area which need to be stoppedgtgt Sunder Nagar Garden and surrounding areas lack adequate lighting and many walls are broken making it unsafe for women children and senior citizens immediate repairs and installation of lights are neededgtgt Need for transparency with proper coordination among BMC departments before initiating any workgtgt Despite a government circular mandating public grievance days on Mondays and Fridays the assistant commissioner of H East ward is usually unavailable and does not meet citizens The new candidate must ensure availability of the assistant commissioner to address public grievancesResident SpeakMelwyn FernandeslsquoAfter winning elections nobody comes forward to help That is why the welfare association and residents decided to meet candidates record their assurances on video and take written commitments from themrsquoRussell MoraeslsquoWe wanted to understand what the candidates think and believe in We need encroachmentfree footpaths proper street lights and CCTV cameras along roadsrsquoCandidate SpeakKrishna Vasudev Mhadgut Shiv Sena UBTlsquoOnce I win I will definitely fulfil all the demands of the residents First the residents should question what the earlier winning candidates did for them We have the support of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and we will deliverrsquoShagun Naik Shiv SenalsquoWe have resolved many problems in the area and will continue to do so Whatever comes under the BMC we will solve all issues It is our duty and we will work honestly I promise all residents of VakolaKalinarsquoMohammad Rafique Shaikh Indian National CongresslsquoI have won elections three times and have good knowledge of the area and its problems There are issues such as low water pressure traffic congestion and inadequate BMC hospital facilities Students are not opting for BMC schools due to their poor condition We will improve schools so that more students enrol I promise the residents that I will fulfil all their demandsrsquoRaj Hegiste IndependentlsquoI have been a social worker for the last 20 years I enjoy helping people and my focus is mainly on youth I promise all citizens that I will fulfil all their demandsrsquo