‘What will we do in a crisis?’

Bandrarsquos quaint villages with their gorgeous heritage bungalows and peaceful alleyways are what originally drew so many patrons to the cafeacutes sprouting all over the suburb In recent years though some of the most popular establishments there have cannibalised the neighbourhood that once nurtured them attracting a daily influx of crowds and cars far beyond what the historic precinct can handleWhat was once a sleepy bohemian enclave is now struggling under the weight of its newfound popularity as longtime residents grapple with traffic congestion constant noise from honking cars and drunk patrons hollering as well as incessant conflicts over limited parking spaceMakeup artist Clint Fernandes clicks pictures of cars parked at No Parking spots Residents have made it a habit to click pictures of such offences and attempt to upload them on the Mumbai traffic police app but despite clear violations the app often rejects the requests they say PicsAnurag AhireMalcolm Lopes 72 a retired Merchant Navy Captain grew up in an idyllic Bandra in the 1950s and rsquo60s when peace and quiet reigned the days and nights Now angry honks and yelled expletives rent the air as late as 2 am with bars and cafeacutes drawing drunk patrons at all hours of the day ldquoOn weekends the crowd starts coming in at 10 pm in their SUVs Many get drunk and shout at the top of their voices creating a nuisance late at nightrdquo he saysBandrarsquos East Indian villages with their narrow alleys and limited infrastructure were never built for this influx of visitors or their giant SUVs The proliferation of eateries there has resulted in traffic snarls day in and day out and local residents now dread this vehicular crush every time they head outside their gates Valet parking has only complicated matters Patrons waltz into the cafeacutes after handing over their keys to the eateriesrsquo valet attendants who then park these cars wherever they can irrespective of whether itrsquos a No Parking zone or a singlelane alleyway where even one standing car can block all vehicular movementNo parking sign at Subko restaurant at Bandra WestldquoWe got a No Parking notification from the traffic authorities eight years ago Someone tore it down and we had to get another one put up After 9 pm there are no towing vans and thatrsquos what the cafeacutes and their valets take advantage ofrdquo Lopes saysActor Pooja Bhatt who has lived in the area since she was seven has similar grievances ldquoMost people in my building are senior citizens What if somebody needs an ambulance The road is blocked most of the time what will the residents do in a crisisrdquo she questionsKareena Bulchandani founder Mokai and Brian Tellis Bandra residentWhen patrons arenrsquot flooding Bandrarsquos streets themselves there are hundreds of food delivery riders picking up their lunch and coffee orders from these cafeacutes And with no space on the roads these delivery agents are known to ride onto to the pavement instead ldquoI have seen senior citizens struggling to even go to church in the morning dodging bikes on the pavementsrdquo says Bhatt who has switched from her earlier Innova to a Mini Cooper which is easier to navigate in Bandrarsquos traffic nightmareldquoIt gets difficult to manoeuvre with cars parked on both sides The local police have been extremely helpful but they are human too The traffic here can get overwhelmingrdquo says the actor who in the past has sought help from the Mumbai North Central District Forum a collective for citizensrsquo welfare to address this issueFrom left Riccardo Perriera Clint Fernandes actress Pooja Bhatt and Malcolm Lopes stand next to a No Parking board where valets from cafes like Veronicarsquos and Mokai park their cars causing inconvenience to Bandra West residentsMuch of this chaos stems from a lack of planning and regulation of the restaurantsrsquo parking needs Anil Kumbhare Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Traffic Police says ldquoValet parking requires dedicated zones to park and these establishments havenrsquot sought permission for the samerdquoGone are the days when one could enjoy a quiet contemplative walk in Bandrarsquos leafy lanes laments celebrity makeup artist and longtime resident ClintFernandes ldquoHaphazard parking and vehicles stopping in the middle of the road so patrons can enter eateries cause massive traffic jams Bandra used to be so beautiful to walk around but now itrsquos become a bit scary especially for senior citizensrdquoMokai has dedicated part of their property as a waiting area ensuring guests arenrsquot queuing on the road even if it means reducing their seating capacityHe feels the governmentrsquos zoning laws that restrict restaurants and commercial establishments in residential houses and spaces must be implemented ldquoIn addition the traffic department needs to conduct frequent checks like every hour or so to sort the parking issues out Also much stricter laws and heavier fines are required We need legal parking spaces for vehicle owners there are so few in the areardquoSince it opened a branch at a bungalow in Ranwar village in March 2020 Subko Coffee Roasters has attracted patrons in hordes to the East Indian hamlet ldquoFrom the moment we opened Mary Lodge in Ranwar Village wersquove always strived to integrate ourselves with our neighbours with a vital principle of coexistence in our DNA and a commitment toward the neighbourhood being that we are in a historic and primarily residential enclaverdquo the cafeacute said in a statement to midday adding that one of the measures taken to ease stress on local residents was to ldquostation a fulltime guard dedicated to traffic relief and movement on Chapel Road to prevent traffic jams and guide guests not to park in the lane out of respect to the residentsrdquo The cafeacute has also restricted outdoor seating in the afternoons ldquoto avoid noise disturbance to elderly neighbours who requested the same of usrdquoA woman holds up traffic on the road as she poses for a photo outside VeronicarsquosSameer Seth founder and CEO of Hunger Inc Hospitality which owns Veronicarsquos a deli on Veronica Road says they have strived to be mindful of the local residents with roundtheclock valet service and a traffic warden to ensure smooth traffic movement ldquoAdditionally we have set up No Parking zones with cones and signage right outside Veronicarsquos We use our strong social media channels to sensitise guests and encourage them to use public transport We make it a point to communicate regularly with guests through signs posters social media and incafe interactions reminding them to be mindfulmdashwhether itrsquos parking responsibly or being considerate of our neighbourhoodrdquoHe cautions against solely blaming eateries for the changes in Bandra and argues that with the suburb growing there is a larger need for better infrastructure in the suburb including more parking space ldquoWith the redevelopment of the neighbourhood taller buildings are replacing old bungalows and we are seeing an increase in the number of people living in the area This naturally leads to more traffic Itrsquos not just about the cafes as neighbourhoods evolve itrsquos crucial for the infrastructure including roads and traffic management to keep pace with this change Additional parking would make a big difference not just for us but for all of BandrardquoSameer Seth Alan Abraham Marcellus Baptista and Meher MarfatiaSeth points out that with major roads now undergoing concretisation more motorists are being diverted to the internal lanes which further contributes to the congestion ldquoItrsquos important to recognise that while businesses contribute to these changes they are not the sole cause of traffic issues Development and infrastructure must go hand in hand and neighbourhoods authorities and local businesses must work together to address these challenges Bandrarsquos future is promising and everyone in the neighbourhood needs to work together to make it a thriving localityrdquo he says adding that these businesses also bring positives like employment opportunities and economic growth to the neighbourhoodThe problem is that much of this new economy has left Bandrarsquos original residents out in the cold With gentrification of the villages residents have been priced out of dining out in their own neighbourhood unable to afford R300 for a cup of coffee that used to once cost just R20 at Irani cafeacutes and oldschool bakeries that are disappearing from the enclavesBorn and raised in Bandra veteran journalist Marcellus Baptista 65 says ldquoTake Veronicarsquos It used to be Jude Bakery the friendly neighbourhood bakery where locals would buy their daily bread until it shut in 2012 Locals donrsquot go there now they canrsquot afford the fancy rates for coffee and sandwiches Young ones come here from far and wide to post pics on social media and be seen at these cafeacutes They have the money good for them But it would be nice to strike a balance between modernisation and heritage Right now it seems like parallel worlds two types of people living side by side As for me I bypass these exorbitantly priced cafes and head to the corner to cut my chai at just R5rdquo says BaptistaBandra boy Brian Tellis founder and group CEO at Fountainhead MKTG says that changing consumption patterns are a reality that residents have to come to terms with ldquoBut the point Irsquod like to make is that there needs to be this collective sense of responsibility I know people who get disturbed at night because of loud music permeating the air Opening a cafe in a quaint little village is as good as encroaching if you havenrsquot factored in their sensibilities beyond your profit and loss My empathy lies with the residents of the areardquo he emphasisesWritereditor Meher Marfatia who has a 60yearconnection with the place no longer recognises it as the Bandra of her childhood ldquoThat Bandrarsquos sociocultural fabric has changed is a known fact While this is expected and accepted what doesnrsquot sit well with me is the rapidity with which the nouveau riche culture has spread A simple suburbmdashnot only throughout its tiny East Indian villages but all overmdashis now unrecognisable This isnrsquot gentrification itrsquos appropriation and commotion And eateries have a lot to do with itrdquoMany of these eateries thrive on social media marketing drawing young patrons in hordes as everyone wants to be spotted at the hottest new haunt thatrsquos trending on Instagram Bewildered residents watch on daily as youngsters pose outside these eateries shooting reels on the road while completely oblivious to the traffic they are holding upldquoLocal cafeacutes are filled with folks dressed to the nines for early morning coffee It has a different vibe from the easy genuinely freespirited gullies I grew up around None of this forced cool We used to be an organically bohemian Bandrardquo Marfatia ruesKareena Bulchandani founder of Mokai a new cafeacute set up in a restored heritage bungalow in Ranwar village begs to differ She feels that businesses like theirs can be stewards of Bandrarsquos rich culture and heritage ldquoMokai has retained the beautiful bungalow we are situated in respecting its architectural integrity and historical significance Beyond that wersquove made tangible efforts to enhance the surrounding environment We took it upon ourselves to clean up the road outside fixing broken steps in front of where Jesusrsquo statue is to make the space outside safer and more inviting Additionally wersquove focused on cultivating greenery around the space planting native plants to enrich the arearsquos natural beauty and support the local ecosystem By doing so we hope to create a little oasis that complements Bandrarsquos character while giving back to the community that has given us so muchrdquo she saysThey have been mindful to minimise the impact on their neighbours she says ldquoOur cafeacute closes at 11 pm and we maintain a serene atmosphere by refraining from loud music We only serve coffees smoothies and soft beveragesmdashcritical factors in minimising noise pollution We want to lead by examplemdashensuring our growth doesnrsquot come at the cost of the community Our goal is to protect the things that make Bandra unique the mix of tradition and modernity the quiet charm of the lanes and the vibrancy of its peoplerdquoShe recognises though that Mokairsquos Instagram fame will prompt patrons to take selfies or shoot reels outside the cafeacutersquos easily recognisable blue and pink walls They have stationed an attendant outside who ensures patrons donrsquot obstruct traffic flow in their attempts to capture the cafeacutersquos artistic facadeBulchandani admits parking and congestion are a challenge and they canrsquot resolve it independently however they feel a sense of responsibility to help find solutions ldquoWersquove dedicated part of our property as a waiting area ensuring guests arenrsquot queuing out on the road Although this meant reducing our seating capacity we were mindful of our impact on the neighbourhood We wanted to avoid causing traffic congestion which could increase honking and noisehellip We encourage visitors to take cabs and for those bringing their cars we offer valet services that meet you at the end of the road for convenience You can even call ahead to have your vehicle for pick uprdquoWhile developing more parking spaces would be helpful she feels we must consider the cost carefully ldquoWould we want to compromise the beauty of these historic streets just to accommodate more cars Itrsquos a delicate balance between growth and preservation and we believe that protecting the character of Bandra is equally important as addressing the needs of a growing communityrdquoIn a time when several bungalows in Bandra are crumbling from neglect and a lack of funds could this be a viable solution to preserve its heritageldquoIn the old days villages like Ranwar and roads like Chapel Road exuded a distinct oldworld charm with quaint cottages and everyone knowing everyone else Now many of the cottages are decrepit others have been razed to the ground to make way for building blocks that are not pleasant to the eyerdquo says BaptistaSome argue that rather than pulling down Bandrarsquos heritage bungalows to make space for ugly skyscrapers converting them into cafeacutes could also be a way to hold on to Bandrarsquos heritage Seth from Veronicarsquos is inclined to agree ldquoEstablishments like ours are critical in preserving and enhancing Bandrarsquos unique character When we came across the space once home to the Jude Bakery one of our key motivations for taking it up was the opportunity to revive and preserve an iconic piece of Bandrarsquos history Even though Jude Bakery is no longer around we aim to continue celebrating its legacy by honouring its baking traditions with our bakes and sandwichesrdquoAccording to architect Alan Abraham who developed St Stephenrsquos Steps into a thriving public space in Bandra West it is not a heritage vs modernity argument ldquoNew cafes and businesses in heritage areas like Bandra donrsquot necessarily detract from its cultural value they can actually draw attention and enhance its visibility However the influx of larger developments can strain public infrastructure and create conflicts over parking between longtime residents and new patrons This is a manageable issuerdquo he saysThe solution he says is effective urban planning especially to tackle population growth and the resulting pressure on infrastructure ldquoInstead of viewing it as an obstacle to progress we should focus on preserving and valuing our cultural heritage while accommodating modern needs Effective urban planning can balance development with heritage preservationrdquo he saysIn the face of growing commercialisation preservation efforts like the beautification and restoration of Ranwar village led by BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar aim to highlight the arearsquos gaothan culture Architect Samir Drsquomonte has been working with residents to restore the villagersquos heritage and has participated in meetings with civic officials to preserve the villagersquos distinct identityThe project which has strong support from local residents also includes a plan to restrict traffic for more pedestrian ease BMC assistant commissioner Vinayak Vispute believes that restricting traffic in the threecenturyold Ranwar village one of the original hamlets of Bandra will help preserve the arearsquos heritage and end traffic woes there ldquoWe have reviewed the area along with residents and have requested the traffic authorities to offer alternate routes to vehicular trafficrdquo he informed middayRestricting traffic movement has done wonders for the heritage precinct of Kala Ghoda in Fort Following successful past trials starting in September Kala Ghodarsquos five internal streets will now be a pedestrianonly zone during weekends The area will have new pavements benches parking cobbled pathways wall paintings and street artefacts However in order to improve access for senior citizens and people with special needs the BMC is considering introducing RFID tagbased vehicular access The speed of tagged vehicles will be capped at 20 km per hour to ensure pedestrian safetyAs Bandra continues to evolve finding a balance between progress and preservation becomes ever more crucial While the influx of trendy cafes and eateries has injected new life into the neighbourhood it has also created challenges that threaten its oldworld charm and sense of community The voices of residents local businesses and authorities must converge to create sustainable solutionsmdashwhether itrsquos traffic management parking reform or noise controlmdashto ensure that Bandrarsquos unique character endures Only through collaboration can the neighbourhood retain its vibrancy without compromising the soul that makes it so belovedHow Khotachi Wadi does itDesigner James Ferreira a longtime resident of Khotachi Wadi explains that the community has deliberately tried to preserve the neighbourhoodrsquos unique character by ensuring that no outside establishments are allowed to set up shop within the area ldquoItrsquos been a conscious decision by the residents to protect Khotachi Wadirsquos legacy and maintain its oldworld charmrdquo he says ldquoThis way we avoid the kind of commercialisation that has transformed other heritage neighbourhoodsrdquo This approach has helped Khotachi Wadi retain its identity amidst the rapid urbanisation seen elsewhere in the city