With corporators missing for a long time, Mumbaikars expect answers from MPs

No wave or storm In Mumbai local issues are likely to dominate this Lok Sabha election as various areaspecific issues have been close to the hearts of people in every constituency Also with corporators missing for a long time citizens now expect answers and solutions to all their issues from candidates The example of the Gokhale bridge completion Mulund PAP project and the Kurla dairy plot issue all started as citizendriven movements on social media and have garnered huge support and gatherings leading to action on the groundMulund residents protesting against the PAP projectsWith the absence of corporators for quite some time citizens now expect answers from whichever candidate is fighting elections from their areas seeking clarity on their stand and what they can deliverYES Local issues are important and hence a manifesto based on that is the key The manifesto seems to be missing its importance in democracy Once published it is obligatory on the part of candidates to explain in public speeches during the next elections the reasons for missing those promises which were already made in the last manifesto Rather than other guarantees we citizens want to guarantee that at least the manifesto will be implemented in totordquo said Jitendra Gupta of the Citizen Committee who has started a Manifesto Suggestion Group on social mediaResidents protesting to protect Kurla dairy plotNorth East MumbaildquoIn Mulund the corporator the MLA and the MP all three were from Mulund but none could stop the huge influx of multiple PAP projects We want a clear mandate from the candidate and his vision on what he can deliverrdquo Makarand Limaye from Mulund East who had gathered at the Gudi Padwa protest said The issue of Project Affected People PAP from Dharavi and other locations shifting to Mulund East is fast snowballingKurla movement to save old dairy landThe development of the huge salt pan land which is now being opened up in phases starting with Metro Pink Line 6 carshed and shifting of PAPs Other issues citizens expect include works of the Metro and the dugup stretches of arterial LBS Road to be filled up fast in Ghatkopar West planned connectivity of roads the stench of the dumping ground at Vikhroli and speeding up ongoing railway station upgradesMumbai North CentralldquoWe have started a movement to save the old Kurla dairy plot and meet all politicians There are around 800 to 900 trees on the plot now We have gathered thousands of signatures and gone door to doorrdquo said activist Kiran Pailwan who has created a social media group and is actively organising public opinion ldquoKurla and Bandra have been besieged by problems of lack of infrastructure despite stateoftheart infra facilities coming up across Mumbai thanks to the complete ignorance and absence of the local elected representativesrdquo Anwar Shaikh saidldquoThe upcoming Yellow Line Metro 2B has bypassed the busy Kurla Junction station losing the golden opportunity of mega connectivity for commuters skywalk plans for smooth pedestrian movement out of Kurla station especially west shelved the pedestrian bridge over LBS Road stuck for several years approach to Kurla station blocked by faulty MMRDA planning the elevated station at Kurla is stuck Bandra East station is a mess and the skywalk missing Citizens here had to approach the court to get things donerdquo another citizen Arvind Kenat said SCLR works have made areas like Kalina a mess the Mithi river still remains polluted and encroached and Chandivli residents have been fighting for basic civic issuesGokhale bridge opened after a citizensrsquo protest PicNimish DaveSouth Central MumbaiThe Dharavi redevelopment issue remains the highlight of this Lok Sabha constituency which includes Chembur Sion Koliwada Anushakti Nagar Wadala and Mahim Other issues include dipping pollution metrics in Chembur and resident issues in Wadala and Mahim ldquoAs the election season is here Dharavi is flooded with promises of development But the problem is much more complex from the size of the tenement to the livelihood and loss of business hub as Dharavi is a medley of various organised and unorganised businesses from leather to potteryrdquo resident Ankush Meshram saidMumbai NorthThe key issues and demands of residents in Mumbai North are multifold but mainly aspiring for a good quality of life open spaces shifting of the Dahisar toll plaza and freedom from traffic jams ldquoThere is a need for an AIIMSstyle super speciality hospital in Mumbai North MPs can promote coastal tourism in Gorai Madh Marve and Uttan more parks grounds amp jogging grounds and slum redevelopment across the constituency The authorities should also speed up metro works BorivliThane tunnel and part of the Coastal Road passing through the constituency Also I would say we need more auditoriums in the constituency to stage Marathi Gujarati Hindi playsrdquo said citizen Mandar SawantMumbai North WestThis constituency showed the golden example of how citizen activism got the Gokhale Bridge expedited and completed with the help of the local MLA The issues in the areas in these constituencies are similar to those of Mumbai North with citizens seeking better infra more open spaces and quality life ldquoSince railways are a central subject more bridges for faster eastwest connectivity are the key issue here and the local MP can help us in such thingsrdquo citizen Raghav Thakur said The development of slums and building of more hospitals and traffic jams are some of the other issues that should be taken up on priority in the absence of corporatorsMumbai SouthldquoPipe gas water supply and development of the eastern front have been a few key issues in south Mumbai The cluster redevelopment of all old chawlslum tenements is another onerdquo said a citizen From Worli to Colaba this constituency has been a hotbed of citizen grievances more so after corporators were dissolved The key issues here have been traffic concerns connectivity and redevelopment The ldquosensiblerdquo development of Mumbai port trust land was also an issue in the last elections The development of the east coast and rehabilitation of all affected slum dwellers on the MBPT land have also been discussed since 2018 by the sitting local MP