Mumbai: Commuting has long been a challenge for Mumbaikars, and the latest to cite this as a reason while making a push for accommodation closer to the workplace is the city’s deputy mayor Sanjay Ghadi, a corporator of the Dy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Ghadi has written to municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide seeking allotment to him of a vacant civic bungalow inside the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan premises in Byculla, saying it takes him too long to commute from his residence in Dahisar.In his letter, the deputy mayor has said that his daily travel between Dahisar (East) and the BMC headquarters at Fort consumes a considerable amount of time and he is frequently delayed by traffic congestion. He said the commute causes “mental and physical distress” and affects his ability to reach the civic headquarters on time for administrative meetings, seminars, public interactions and other official programmes.Ghadi also pointed out that the ongoing monsoon season is likely to make his commute even more difficult. He has requested that the bungalow inside the Jijamata Udyan campus, vacated by former additional municipal commissioner (city) Ashwini Joshi following her transfer, be allotted to him as his official residence. He said the accommodation is close to the BMC headquarters and would enable him to discharge his official responsibilities more efficiently. In the letter, Ghadi said that staying near the headquarters would help him attend civic meetings and programmes on time while ensuring quicker service delivery to citizens.Ghadi told TOI, “It is taking me five hours daily to travel back and forth from the BMC head office. So much of my useful time is being spent in the commute, which I could use attending to the public.”Ghadi, who sent the letter late last month, is yet to receive any reply from the civic administration.Congress corporator Ashraf Azmi criticised Ghadi for making the demand, stating that the BMC’s financial position isn’t very strong to keep spending taxpayers’ money on such official residences. “The BMC already has liabilities of over Rs 2 lakh crore and hence cannot be forced to spend on such additional accommodation that the deputy mayor is demanding. Besides, he is an elected corporator from Dahisar and in case he shifts to south Mumbai, who will attend to citizens’ complaints in his corporator ward?” Azmi said.Unlike mayor Ritu Tawde, who will stay in her position for 2.5 years, Ghadi will hold office only for a duration of 1.25 years. This was decided by the Mahayuti when his name was announced as the Sena’s official nominee for the post of deputy mayor with the idea of splitting the five-year term in order to give an opportunity to other corporators.
