Kharghar fire station to be ready by Feb

To come up in Sector 12 of the node, the fire station will have four buildings besides parking space

Veda Ramaswamy, Kharghar

June 03, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Photographer - Umesh Pawar, DNA

The progress work of the fire station situated in Sector 12, Kharghar, which had slowed down after it had to face a few hindrances on the course of its construction has now regained its momentum. In spite of the delay, the fire station is expected to be functional by February 2012, as per schedule.

The fire station which has been allotted 30,000 sq. feet area of land by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is proposed to have four buildings. The first building will have the staff office along with the fire brigade parking and would be three storeyed. The footing and plinth work of this building has been completed. The second and third building which would function as staff quarters, will be four-storeyed each. The work of constructing a footing column and tie beam has been completed in the second building while only the footing foundation has been laid in the third building. The foundation work of the fourth building which would be five storeyed and would house the drill and smoke room of the fire station has also been completed.

Cidco had awarded the construction work of the fire station to Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. in August 2010. The construction work of the fire station had encountered a few obstacles which had slowed down the pace of work. "We were facing certain problems associated with sand and electrical maintenance. Due to this, the work was going on at a snail's pace. But all the issues have been sorted out and the work is being carried out at a full swing now," said an official from Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. on condition of anonymity.

Since the time of its commencement in August, Cidco has allotted a time period of 18 months to the construction agency for completion of the project. "The work of the fire station had run into certain problems. But despite the issues, the fire station is expected to be ready by February 2012 as per the scheduled date," said Mohan Ninave, the chief PRO, Cidco.

Presently, the Kharghar node which has over 40 sectors, has to rely on the services of a fire station in Kalamboli. The Rs 50 crore project embarked on by Cidco will prove to be a lifeline for over 2 lakh residents of the node at times of averting a fire disaster.

NMMC carrying out renovation of city gardens

All efforts are on to complete the work before onset of monsoon

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

June 03, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Photographer - Nandu Kurne, DNA

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has undertaken an initiative of renovating dilapidated gardens across the satellite city. Work is going on at full swing at various gardens under their jurisdiction. Major redevelopment is being carried out at four gardens while minor beautification work is being carried out at several other gardens. Efforts are on to complete the work before the arrival of monsoon. According to NMMC officials, around Rs 4 crore are being spent on the entire renovation work which is likely to conclude within the next 20-25 days.

Meenatai Thackeray Udyan in Sector 17, Vashi; Hegdevar Udyan in Belapur near Uran Phata; Tarabai Fulchand Madhavi Udyan in Sector 6, Airoli and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Udyan in Sector 2, Nerul are the four gardens where the main renovation work is being carried out. "The condition of these gardens had worsened over the years. There was a heavy demand by the residents to restore these gardens since they are the only source of recreation in the vicinity. Hence the initiative was undertaken. Conscious efforts are on to complete the work before the onset of monsoon," said an NMMC official on condition of anonymity.

The renovation plan includes development of green lawns, jogging tracks, constructing benches for sitting and relaxing, good quality swings and slides and other such facilities at these gardens. The beautification plan for other gardens has also been decided and worked upon by the authorities. Before the work commenced, the gardens were almost in a state of ruin. "Cracks were formed on the jogging tracks in Meenatai Thackeray Udyan. Few swings and slides were broken too. I didn't allow my child to play on them fearing his safety. Gardens are the only recreational activity for small children. The NMMC has undertaken a good initiative to renovate these gardens and beautify them," said Rashmi Pande, a resident of Vashi.

Currently, the work of digging, plastering, brickwork, laying down foundation with the Plaster of Paris for the reconstruction of the jogging tracks with concrete is being carried out at these gardens. "We have been giving special attention to the beautification and redevelopment of gardens. Once the renewals of these gardens conclude, residents will not only regain their recreational area but also acknowledge the transformation," said Jagannath Sinnarkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Garden Department, NMMC.

Kharghar becomes new address of Navi Mumbai

The open spaces in Kharghar are being developed into parks and gardens to cater to the recreational needs of the Navi Mumbai residents. The Central Park planned on the lines of Hyde Park in London and the Golf Course are being developed here by CIDCO. Being Asia's largest garden, the Central Park spread across 80 hectare, is touted to take Kharghar on the international map. It accommodates diverse functions of active and passive recreations starting from jogger's tracks, botanical gardens, amphitheatre, fountains, conservatories and theme parks to a full fledged sports stadium. Also, the 10-hole signature golf course spanning across 103 hectare would have the distinction of being the only golf course with international standards and facilities in Navi Mumbai. A club house, five star hotel and golf academy to train golf enthusiasts along with high class residential development are also being planned on the peripheral areas. The residents have been eagerly awaiting the completion of these projects as it will provide them with much more recreational opportunities than before. Earlier, the residents of Kharghar who had to travel to other nodes for spending a few hours of quality time with family and friends would now be able to enjoy a quick getaway right in their backyard. With so much in the offing for Kharghar locals, Veda Ramaswamy gets talking with the residents to know what they are looking forward to once these projects get accomplished.

- June 02, 2011 : DNA Navi Mumbai

Panvel keeps an umbrella handy!

Disaster management cell has 11 centres that will work 24x7 to help the people

Veda Ramaswamy, Panvel

June 02, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

A disaster management cell in Panvel became functional from Wednesday. The cell, set up by the Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) and the administration of Panvel taluka, will be run around the clock.

The cell has come as a boon for residents and commuters as it has been built to counter flooding and help residents in case of any calamity. The management has created six divisions in Panvel and established 11 centres all across these divisions. The centres will not only provide relief measures to the residents under their jurisdiction but also undertake preventive measures to curb flooding and avoid occurrence of any mishaps during monsoons. Residents too can call up these centres if they are in trouble.

The six centres are at Panvel district, Panvel village, Morbe, Poyambe, Taloja and Ovle. Due to the presence of Panvel creek and river Gadhi in the region, surrounding areas run a major risk of flooding during high tide in monsoon. The areas that are most vulnerable to flooding are Palidevad, Vichumbe, Kalundre, Usarli, Karanjade, Khurd, Kolakhe, Vadghar, Gulsunde, Turade, Apta and Chavane in Panvel taluka. Koliwada, Kachhi Mohalla, Patel Mohalla within Panvel city limits are also in danger of flooding. "Our main aim is to keep people safe and rescue them from floods during monsoons. Apart from that, we are also taking preventive measures to avoid any accidents during torrential downpours," said SG Patankar, chief operating officer, PMC. The cell will not only rescue people stuck in floodwaters, it will help clear up waterlogged roads and help traffic move freely and also remove uprooted trees blocking roads.

Not only is the fear of flooding a major concern for officials, the danger of landslides during monsoon is a major cause for worry. Many villages in Panvel taluka are prone to landslides. "Villages such as Akurli, Bardoli, Chikhle and Machi Prabhal in rural areas of Panvel are highly sensitive to landslides during monsoon due to their proximity to Matheran hill ranges. There have been lots of accidents because of landslides in these villages. As a part of the Disaster Management Cell, we are trying to avert any such untoward calamity this year and conscious efforts will be on to help out the villagers in need," said an officer from the Panvel taluka administration office.

The cell is expected to be active till the end of monsoon to make sure that there is no damage and loss of property and human life in the area.

Kharghar, sought after destination

Earlier, one could only associate nodes like Vashi and Nerul with the words advanced and established. But now the scenario has changed completely. Kharghar is the new developed hub for Navi Mumbaikars. Situated amidst the green hills and the serene environment of the Kharghar hills, this node has seen a radical change in the past few years. The area which was considered difficult to access a few years ago, now offers a number of ready and under-construction projects, making it a favourite among the commercial property buyers. Located on the Mumbai-Pune highway at less than an hour’s drive from Mumbai, Kharghar adjoins the CBD of Navi Mumbai and is bound by two major highways and the picturesque Kharghar hills, making it a hot pick for the residential segment as well. Owing to its good connectivity through rail and roads and the presence of many recreational spots, Kharghar has become the much sought after destination among the young crowd too. What has taken this node a notch above the rest is the number of high quality educational institutions that one can find here. Besides, the upcoming Central Park and golf course are touted to make Kharghar globally prominent. Veda Ramaswamy gets talking with the residents of Kharghar on their opinion about the node transforming into one of the best areas of the satellite city.

- May 31, 2011 : DNA Navi Mumbai

NMMC ropes in IIT-B to ensure safety on Palm Beach Road

Civic officials to hold a meeting with institute to discuss safety audit; deliberate on corrective measures

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 31, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) along with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) is planning to conduct a meeting soon in order to implement the corrective measures suggested by the IIT-B for improving the safety of the vehicular traffic on the Palm Beach Road. The Road Safety Audit (RSA) which was carried out with an aim of reducing as well as eliminating most of the accidental rates and causes on the arterial road, was released by IIT-B on Saturday. The meeting would be conducted between the authorities once IIT-B finalises on the report after including inputs if any, by the traffic police department.

The 10-kilometer six-lane speed road which connects Vashi and Belapur is known for its high accident rates. In 2010, there were a total of 107 accidents recorded on Palm Beach Road, including 16 deaths, 34 critical injuries, 10 minor injuries and 70 accidents without any injuries. In the wake of the fatality rates increasing on the high speed corridor, Municipal Commissioner Bhaskar Wankhede had appointed IIT-B to conduct a RSA last year. A reconnaissance survey was carried out on December 14, 2010, followed by the main survey on March 12, 2011 and succeeded by the night-time audit in April, 2011 by the transportation systems engineering department group of IIT-B.

The RSA draft report includes several safety issues observed by the IIT-B team during their inspection. Corresponding recommendations have also been stated in the report for improving the safety measures. The summary at the end of the report stated around 40 essential safety issues and the consequent suggestions to rectify them. The report also had 300 photographs related to the issue in order to support their issues. The key problem area causing a major percentage of the accidents on the Palm Beach Road as highlighted in the list is the Killa Chowk.

The Chowk is mainly a junction for the heavy vehicles to commute. Hence, heavy vehicular traffic forms the foremost cause of accidents followed secondly by cars. Another major safety issue brought to notice by the report is the breaking of speed limit. “The speed limit assigned on the Palm Beach Road is 60 km per hour while it is just 30 km per hour on the bridge towards Vashi. However, the vehicles zoom past at a speed of around 100-120 km per hour which proves to be the root cause of most of the accidents. The speed limit of the motorists has to be curtailed in order to ensure the safety of commuters on the road,” ACP (Traffic) Shrikant Dhivare said.

Many other safety issues were stated in the report like the absence of crash barriers on the flyover causing visibility problem at night, street lights being covered by overgrown trees, autos awaiting passengers covering the road curves, pipelines encroaching the road, dysfunctional traffic signals etc.

“NMMC would be conducting a meeting to execute these changes along with IIT-B once the report is finalised. The draft won’t need any additional inputs from the traffic police department as all the issues have been highlighted clearly with the required changes that are needed to be implemented,” Dhivare added. All efforts to contact NMMC officials proved futile.

Civic official suspended for dereliction of duty

Veda Ramaswamy, Koparkhairane

May 31, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

In order to curb the inefficiency of work, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has resolved to take strict action against the officials found guilty of any offence. As an example of this ruling, the municipal commissioner Bhaskar Wankhede suspended Mahendra Mahadik, the sub-inspector of cleanliness department, who was in-charge of clearing of drainage system at Koparkhairane on Saturday. Along with Mahadik’s suspension, two other officers, Praveen Thorat and Satish Sangdi were given show cause notices by the commissioner.

As part of the pre-monsoon preparations, NMMC had undertaken the initiative of clearance of nullahs across the satellite city to avoid water logging two months ago. In order to keep the work in check and to see to it that it gets completed on schedule, the commissioner used to supervise the areas personally. Mahadik had sent a report to the NMMC stating that the work of clearance of nullahs at Sector 17, Koparkhairane had been completed. But on his visit to the site on Saturday, the commissioner observed that the work had been done superficially. A periscope was used by him to have a look at the work done. The detailed view showed that the nullahs had been cleared from the surface but were clogged and filled with sludge deep within. As a result of the inadequacy and false reporting of the work being completed effectively by the officers, the commissioner decided to take strict action.

“Mahadik had sent me a report of the work on the clearance of nullahs being completed successfully. But on my visit to Koparkhairane, I found that the work had not been carried out efficiently. The nullahs were filled with sewage which would have led to water logging during monsoon. Hence Mahadik was suspended,” Wankhede said adding, the two other officers were given a show cause notice and asked to reply to the same by May 31. Their work would be monitored till then and based on their work progress, their fate would be decided.

The commissioner is considering making spot visits frequently and punish the officials found guilty of any offence and facilitate the efficiency and planned completion of any project undertaken by the NMMC. “The suspension of Mahadik is a wake up call for all the other officials. He would be given a chance to explain himself and if his answer is found legit, his suspension would be reverted. But such stern actions would continue to take place against officials found guilty,” Wankhede concluded.

Juicy and delicious peaches hit city market

The seasonal fruit is being sold at a price less than 50% compared to last year

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 29, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Yet another delicious summer fruit has hit the local market. Navi Mumbaikars can now indulge in the sweetness of peaches that too at half the price as compared to last year. The markets have been flooded with fresh supply of peaches since Thursday. They are currently available for Rs 300-Rs 400 per box, each box containing 8-10 kilos of the fruit.

According to fruit traders, the rates have gone down by 50% this year owing to a good harvest season. “Last year, the prices of peaches were Rs 800-Rs 900 per box. Due to a severe shortage of produce, the prices had escalated. But the yield this year has been immense leading to the drastic drop in rates,” said Shrikant Chavan, a fruit trader from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Vashi.

APMC is receiving around 6-7 tonnes of peaches on a daily basis this season. The wholesale market imports the finest quality peaches from the hilly regions of Nainital in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit begins to grow during the winter season and is ready for sale by summer. “The fruit begins its budding season in the early winter and enters its ripening stage in mid-summer. Since the season of mangoes has almost ended, there couldn’t have been a better time for the fruit to have entered the market,” said Santosh Kanade, another fruit merchant from APMC.

The soaring temperature of the satellite city combined with the increasing health consciousness among residents has led to an increase in demand of the fruit as well, say the fruit merchants. “It’s been just three days that the fruit has been made available in the market and the demand is growing already. It’s a very healthy alternative to beat the heat. The demand is likely to increase further in the coming weeks. But the prices are expected to remain constant due to the availability of the produce in abundant quantity,” said a local peach vendor.

The news of peaches being sold at a much lesser price has bought smiles on the faces of Navi Mumbaikars. “At a time when fruits like mangoes are loaded with calories and create a hole in our pockets, peaches are the best option. They are low in calories, high in vitamins and fiber, making them an excellent choice for a summer diet,” said Shraddha Jha, a resident of Nerul. “While the prices of most of the summer fruits are soaring, the fact that peaches are being sold at a much lesser price than last season comes as a much needed respite,” said Ritu Chowdhary, a Vashi resident. The fruit is expected to be available in the market till first week of July.

Getting in line a big headache

Ever come across a situation where you have been standing in the ticket queue for long and finally when your turn comes, suddenly an individual barges in demanding for a coupon booklet? Just like you, many other Navi Mumbaikars too have been through this situation. While it’s completely legal to do so across all the stations, it definitely irks the people waiting in queue since long. Not only the people wanting to buy coupon booklets are privileged to skip the queue, but also the commuters wanting a first class ticket or pass have the advantage of saving their precious time. While it may sound beneficial for those few, most of the commuters are certainly left disgruntled. Many a times, fights have also been observed between commuters for losing out on their turn. As a solution to the issue, Navi Mumbaikars are demanding a separate counter altogether for selling the coupon booklets. They are also of the opinion that separate counters should be introduced for issuing first class tickets and passes at stations like Seawoods where this facility has not yet been availed. Not only will this move help the commuters save their time, but it will also provide efficiency and maintain the tempers from flying at the booking counters. When Veda Ramaswamy talked to some Navi Mumbaikars about their wish to see a separate counter being introduced for coupons and first class tickets, here is what they have to say.

- May 28, 2011 : DNA Navi Mumbai

State passes anti-copying test

HSC results: Drive to catch students cheating during exam a success; pass percentage in state drops by 6.56%

Statistics compiled by Neha Taneja and Veda Ramaswamy

May 28, 2011 - DNA, Mumbai

Junnar mangoes set to hit city markets from June 1

APMC market is expecting to receive truckloads of the king of fruits in next couple of days

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 27, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

The season for Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes might have ended, but mango lovers need not feel disappointed. Navi Mumbaikars have a delightful reason to look forward to the coming week. A special variety of mangoes called ‘Junnar’ are expected to hit the market from June 1.

Junnar mangoes are a unique kind of mangoes which are much sweeter than the usual Alphonso mangoes and are also rarely available in the market. They are grown in the hilly regions of Junnar district in Pune and derive their name from their origin. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Vashi, is expecting to receive around 10-15 trucks of 300-400 boxes each containing 2-4 dozens of Junnar mangoes on a daily basis. “The specialty of the Junnar mangoes is that they are sweeter than the Ratnagiri mangoes. Also, Ratnagiri mangoes are grown in the coastal areas of the Konkan region which proves to be a much more favourable climate for growth of the fruit. They grow faster and hence are available in the market earlier. Whereas, Junnar mangoes are grown in the interior hilly regions of Pune due to which the ripening process takes place at a slower pace. This is the reason why these mangoes are available in the market much later than other Alphonso mangoes,” said Sanjay Pimpale, a mango trader from APMC and the secretary of Fruits and Vegetable Association.

According to traders, the rates of the fruit cannot be estimated till the supplies begin to pour in. But the produce is expected to be definitely lesser as compared to last year. “The price of the mangoes cannot be predicted. Once the supplies come in, the rates can be fixed. But the supply is expected to be much lesser as compared to last season,” said another mango trader from APMC. The demand for these mangoes is likely to be high considering their individuality. Also, the fact that they are the last lot of mangoes to be available in the local market makes them the most sought after. “The demand for Junnar mangoes is expected to be high. This combined with the shortage in supplies would make their prices high but certainly much lesser than the rates of Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes,” Pimpale said.

Not many are aware about this variety of mango, say mango traders. But those who know are eagerly awaiting the arrival of these mangoes. “I am a native of Junnar. I used to relish these mangoes in my childhood. The news that they would be available in the wholesale market has pleased me,” said Varsha Sathe, a Vashi resident. They are likely to be available in the market till June 15.

Work on phase II of Central Park in Kharghar yet to begin

CIDCO officials say the project has been facing major barrier every now and then

Veda Ramaswamy, Kharghar

May 27, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbaikars’ thrilled wait for their dream of Asia’s largest garden, the Central Park in Kharghar, to turn into a reality has been prolonged further. The project which was slated to be completed by May, 2011 is still in its Phase I work. According to the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) officials, the Phase II of the project has been facing a major barrier and is yet to take off. The Phase I work is expected to be completed by July, 2011.

The work on Central Park, which has been envisaged to take the satellite city on the international map due to its inspiration from Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York, has been divided into two phases for better efficiency. Phase I comprises of active recreational aspects in sector 23 while Phase II consists of passive recreation parks in sector 24 and active recreational features in sector 25. The phase II of construction work has hit a major hurdle in its execution and is hence yet to commence, say CIDCO officials. “The work on Phase II of the Central Park has not yet begun. It has faced a major obstruction as the proposed route for Navi Mumbai Metro Rail is crossing through sector 24. Since the land for both the projects are overlapping, an alternate plan for the park has to be devised. Only then will the work of Phase II commence,” CIDCO’s executive engineer KO Chaudhari said. A meeting is going to be held soon between the authorities of the two projects to formulate an alternate plan. Subsequently, the time period for the completion of the project can be estimated, added Chaudhari.

Phase I of the project too has incurred a delay in completion. The construction work of the ambitious project of CIDCO, spread over 80 hectares of land, had begun four years ago. “Shortage of sand is the main reason why the work has slowed down. Government does not allow extraction of sand. We had the sand transported from Gujarat. This caused a lot of delay. Now monsoon is in the offing too. The progress is likely to be mired further. But as of now, only 20% of Phase I work remains,” said Chaudhari. Phase I is estimated to be concluded within two months.

The amphitheatre, Hasta Mudra Park, Indian Musical Instrument Park, Theme Park based on dance which includes 60 statues of various Indian dance forms has been completed successfully, all of which are a part of Phase I’s active recreational aspects in sector 23. “Other features of the Central Park like the revolving restaurant, conservatory, Heritage Centre are in charge of private participation (POT) and not with us. They are being built independently,” said a CIDCO official.

Authorities have estimated the overall budget of Phase I to be around 80 crores. Madav Consultants are in charge of the architectural design and planning of the project while it is being executed by CIDCO. CIDCO officials are planning to set up an agency named O&M in Kharghar to look after the ticketing, operations and maintenance of the Central Park, once its construction is concluded.

Mangoes are gone, it’s time for litchees, cherries

City markets are flooded with truckloads of fresh fruits

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 25, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbaikars can now indulge in a sweet delight. The local markets have been flooded with a fresh inflow of trucks loaded with juicy litchees and blood red cherries since Sunday. Currently, cherries are being sold at Rs 250 per kg while litchees are available at Rs 2 per fruit in the wholesale market. According to fruit traders, the rates have increased by 25-30% this year due to lack of supply.

“The rates of cherries and litchees are higher than usual this year. The prices were expected to be normal but the shortage of produce has led to the price hike,” said Chandra Sharma, a fruit trader from the APMC market. The season for these fruits begin from mid-May and last till July. This being the initial period, the rates are likely to escalate even further. “These fruits have just arrived in the market. Their prices will definitely increase in the next 15-20 days,” confirmed another trader from APMC.

At APMC, the finest quality litchees arrive from various places across India such as Muzaffarpur in Bihar, Dehradun in Uttarakhand and Kolkata in West Bengal, while cherries are ordered from Srinagar in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The wholesale market receives around 3000 boxes of cherries and 2000 boxes of litchees each containing 600 pieces on a daily basis. “The supplies of these fruits have decreased considerably this year. The produce of cherries is especially disappointing. The unfavourable weather conditions and unpredictable rainfall in the growing region is the cause of the shortage,” said a cherry trader from APMC.

The demand for these summer fruits is on a high as well. With the season for mangoes almost coming to an end, Navi Mumbaikars are opting for these fruits as an alternative. “Litchees have a lot of water content in them. Due to this reason, their demand in the market is high. But since the supply is not adequate this year, their rates are more,” said Sabaji Vajmare, a fruit trader from APMC.

“Litchees and cherries are a good alternative to beat the heat. Since mangoes are out of stock and their season almost over, fruit lovers can look forward to dig into these fruits from now on,” Seawoods resident Pia Sinha said.

Locals grope in dark in MSEDC-CIDCO tussle

Residents of K’ghar building wait for permanent supply

Veda Ramaswamy, Kharghar

May 25, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Photographer - Veda Ramaswamy, DNA

As many as 10 buildings in sector 30, Kharghar which have been ready for possession since last one year are yet to receive permanent electricity supply from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDC). The residents have been provided with a temporary power supply by MSEDC through a commercial connection, but it is costing them exorbitant amounts. Due to this, the residents have been suffering and their repeated attempts to make CIDCO and MSEDC provide them with a permanent connection have gone in vain.

Lotus Apartments, Our Nest, Patil Complex, Simran Pride, Dev Kripa, Sri Kripa, Seven Hills, Bhanu Hills, Sapphire and Ruby are the 10 buildings that are yet to receive permanent electricity in spite of residents beginning to gain possession since the last year. The temporary power supply provided costs around Rs 18 per unit while the normal rate is Rs 1.10 per unit. “My electricity bill was Rs 3000 this month. I do not mind paying if I had consumed so much power, but why should I pay the extra money?” said a worried resident from Sapphire building not wishing to be named.

The temporary electricity supply doesn’t avail the residents’ freedom to use high power consuming appliances like air conditioners or computers. Even the lifts aren’t functional in many of these buildings since they consume a lot of electricity. “Several buildings here are more than five-storeyed. Since the lifts don’t work, residents have no option but to climb the floors. I have even switched off my electric bell to cut down on consumption,” said a Lotus Apartments’ resident. Rehan Bharde, another resident from Our Nest said, “For the initial 1-2 months, we had no electricity supply throughout the day. Only at nights were we fortunate enough to get power. And now the temporary supply has been bothering all the residents since it incurs pointless additional expenses.”

The builders of these constructions have paid the Power Supply Infra Development Charges (PSIDC) to CIDCO required to obtain the infra for these buildings. “All the builders here together have paid Rs 4 crore-Rs 5 crore PSIDC to CIDCO around 7-8 months back. I have the required receipts and files as proof. Despite repeatedly calling CIDCO officials and sending them letters, there has been no action taken yet. The residents of these buildings are suffering since last year as they not only have to bear the inconvenience caused due to erratic power supply but also pay the extra money for the temporary connection,” said Anand Bhandari, a contractor. Bhandari also informed of arrangements being made for connecting transformers to the buildings so that the residents could escape paying such a hefty amount for a basic necessity such as electricity, but there has been no progress on that front either by CIDCO or MSEDC.

Not only are these buildings devoid of permanent power supply, but also various other buildings in sector 20 to sector 40, Kharghar are facing the same problem. “Many buildings are under construction in that area while few are ready but cannot be given for possession to residents since there is no supply of electricity in spite of the builders paying the required amount,” Bhandari added.

The agreement between CIDCO and MSEDC, dated October 27, 2010 is still pending. “The agreement is yet to be signed by CIDCO. They play the role of developers while we play the role of supplying electricity. Once the agreement is signed and approved, only then can we go ahead with providing permanent power,” said DR Saboo, Superintendent Engineer, MSEDC. When contacted, a CIDCO official on condition of anonymity said, “I am aware of the problem. But the Jt MD, CIDCO, Tanaji Satre, is out of town. He is expected to join on June 3. Once he begins his duty, only then can the agreement be signed.”

College-goers look to revamp wardrobes

With new academic session starting in just a few weeks, teenagers are flocking to stores

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 24, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Wondering what to wear to your college this academic new year? Most of the young Navi Mumbaikars too are busy speculating what to wear and what not this season. They are busy revamping their wardrobe in an effort to look chic and stylish. Come June and most colleges in Navi Mumbai would begin with their new academic year. With less than a fortnight for their classes to commence, students are busy shopping and pampering themselves with new looks to get ready and face the exciting college life!

For most of the students, new year means new clothes and a new you! “It’s that time of the year when we get a hearty opportunity to go on a shopping spree. I recently went to Inorbit Mall in Vashi to purchase new outfits since the college is about to start. Last year, I wore a lot of traditional clothes. But now I have opted for an Indo-Western look. I have bought several black and blue coloured jeggings. They are quiet in fashion now and look elegant when teamed with long kurtas,” said Poorna Balasubramaniam, a student of SIES College, Nerul. Another student from MGM College, Nikhitha Vasan says, “I wasn’t familiar with accessorizing earlier. I have made it a point to concentrate on it now. It’s as important as your outfit. My picks for this season would be long chains, rings, metal bracelets and wooden bangles. I am looking forward to purchase them from Linking Road, Bandra this weekend.”

Not only are the colleges re-opening, but monsoon is expected to hit the city at the same time too. Students are busy purchasing to suit the season. They are opting for a fresh, cheerful look with bright colourful outfits for this monsoon. Monsoon is considered to be a season when you could experiment with colours. One can’t do much about the material as we need quick drying materials but can surely play with colours. This season is to mix and match all the shades of a spectrum, both the light and the dark colours equally favourable and good looking if teamed up well in the dull climate. Sofiya Upade, a BMM student says, “This is the only time when our parents allow us to shop generously. My college would be re-opening in two week’s time. Since monsoon is around the corner, I would be purchasing many three-fourths and cute cartoon t-shirts to go with it. Bright colours like lemon yellow and pink lighten up the mood.”

Also, the old styled umbrellas are a hit among college goers. Many are swarming the malls and local shops with demands for such umbrellas. Sneha Doshi, a resident of Belapur says, “No one likes to begin a new year with the same old clothes and accessories. I just bought myself a bright yellow old style polka dotted umbrella from Landmark and planning to purchase a new pair of red crocs soon.”

Seawoods ROB work on schedule: CIDCO

The bridge will connect the eastern and western side of the node to the relief of residents

Veda Ramaswamy, Seawoods

May 24, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

The work of the much-awaited road-over-bridge (ROB) connecting Seawoods east and west is going on according to plan. The construction of the ROB has been completed up to 85-90% and is expected to be ready by October 2011. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) awarded the tender for its construction to engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in 2009 for an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.

The 745 metre long and 24 metre wide six-lane ROB begins from Sector 42 and ends at Sector 25, Seawoods. It will have two way vehicular roads, three lanes for each side. Besides, for pedestrians, three meter foot-over-bridge (FOB) will be also constructed adjacent to the ROB. The project which commenced on July 14, 2009 is running as per schedule. “The estimated tenure period allotted for the project is 24 months. The work is expected to become slow during monsoons but it will be completed as per the assigned date on October 13, 2011,”said VK Isal, the Executive Engineer, CIDCO.

The ROB is touted to improve the connectivity between Seawoods east and west. It will also ensure the safety of pedestrians and commuters. “Earlier, we had no option but to cross the railway tracks. It was really unsafe especially when we had our children along with us. But once the bridge starts, we can use it for commuting and it will ensure our safety in the long run,” said Shilpa Chowdhary, a Seawoods resident.

The increased frequency of trains has led to more problems for residents who have to wait for long every time a train passes by. Construction of the bridge will also solve traffic problems at the railway crossing to a huge extent. “We always have to wait for the trains to pass by. This causes a lot of time waste and the vehicular traffic also increases. The bridge will help us save several minutes,” said Roshni Dande, another local resident.

An official from L&T on condition of anonymity said, “To ensure commuters’ safety and full utility of the ROB, the railway crossing would be closed once the bridge gets functional.” Moreover, the bridge construction is expected to add to the real estate value of Seawoods as it will give easy access to the residents for commuting.

Last few days to get a bite of Alphonsos

Ratnagiri alphonsos will be available in the APMC market only till May 31

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi

May 22, 2011 - DNA Navi Mumbai

For all those Navi Mumbaikars who haven’t grabbed a bite of the delicious Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes yet, here is your last and final chance to get a taste of the king of fruits this year. Ratnagiri mangoes are going to be available in the market only till May 31. Residents have something to cheer about as the prices of these mangoes have decreased by Rs 200 per box, each box containing 4-5 dozens of mangoes since Tuesday.

The Alphonso mangoes now cost Rs 900-Rs 1100 (1st grade), Rs 700-Rs 900 (2nd grade) and Rs 500-Rs 700 (3rd grade) per box. Earlier, these mangoes were priced at Rs 1000-Rs 1200 (1st grade), Rs 800-Rs 1000 (2nd grade) and Rs 600-Rs 800 (3rd grade) per box. “The Alphonso mangoes would be available in the local market for the next 10 days only. The season for Ratnagiri mangoes are about to end this year. Even their demand has reduced considerably as most of the families are out on holiday trips at this time of the year. But it’s the last opportunity this year for mango lovers to purchase the finest quality fruit,” said Sanjay Pimpale, a mango trader from APMC and the Secretary of Fruit and Vegetable Merchant’s Association.

This news has come as a respite for those Navi Mumbaikars who were yet to taste the delicious summer fruit. “My son used to pester me to buy mangoes. But since we were at our native, we couldn’t purchase any. But now, as only a few days are left for the season to end, we will definitely buy a few dozens. Plus, the decrease in prices is an added bonus,” said Priya Gopal, a resident of Nerul.

This year, the amount of Alphonso supply has reduced significantly as compared to last year. This time APMC has received around 60,000-65,000 boxes of Alphonso mangoes per day; while last summer, the count was around 1 lakh boxes each containing 5-6 dozens. The erratic climate and unpredictable rainfall during the flowering period led to the sharp decline in supplies. “These mangoes are transported to Navi Mumbai from Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. The unpredictable rains in that region during the month of November led to most of the crops getting damaged. Hence, the overall supply of the fruit was less this year,” Pimpale added.