MLA

BMC

Andheri West

Ameet Satam

Juhu Lane

Photo by Satyajit Desai/ BCCL

The Andheripromises he will rid the area of khataaras in a couple of months asand traffic police remove 10 autorickshaws from 90 ft road in a weekAbandoned vehicles cluttering roads ofwill be rid for good over the “next couple of months”, MLAhas assured residents.The promise came on the heels of 10 abandoned autorickshaws being towed away from 90 ft road just offin Andheri since last week, bringing some relief to harried locals.The autorickshaws had particularly become a concern after one of them caught fire in December last year. Although there was no casualty or major damage, the incident fired up locals to pursue the matter with all authorities concerned.Resident Jagruti Mody said their efforts finally began to bear fruit last week, when the BMC stuck warning notices, addressed to owners, on the vehicles that they would be towed away if not removed in 48 hours. “While that finally prompted some owners to remove their autorickshaws, the vehicles left unattended by taken away by the traffic police.”An official from the traffic department confirmed the towing away of the khataaras. “Earlier, we did not have a place to take them but now, the BMC has allocated us a space at Juhu Vile Parle Development scheme. “We have taken around 100 khataaras from all over Andheri to this land in the past month.”Satam said he will keep the momentum going. “I plan to keep in touch with the local ward office to ensure that all of Andheri West is rid of khataaras in the next couple of months.”Satam said these abandoned autorickshaws are not only encroachers of public spaces but also offer peddlers and consumers of drugs safe hideouts.Keeping this concern in mind, the DN Nagar police have increased patrolling in the area. Senior Police Inspector Parmeshwar Gamane said his officers go around the area after dark to check on miscreants.Some residents, however, are sceptical of Satam’s assurance and the current campaign. “This small action [of taking away vehicles] came only after we repeatedly followed up with the authorities. They may keep up the intensity only if we continue to make a noise,” said architect Rupali Inamdar.Dietician Venu Hirani suspected that the spaces vacated by the khataaras will be taken up by unlicensed autorickshaws as free parking spots. “We still need a more permanent solution,” she asserted.