Mumbai: Residents of Powai and Chandivli gathered on Sunday to protest what they described as an uncoordinated development push that could overwhelm the area’s roads, pavements, green spaces and civic infrastructure.The projects cited at the meeting included the proposed Global Capability Centre, the MMRDA-SRA project for families affected by the Mithi River rehabilitation, the demolition or redevelopment of Citipark, Haiko and Rodas and proposed development of new buildings.Every additional tower, office complex, rehabilitation building and redevelopment scheme empties into the same roads, the same air, the same drainage network and the same shrinking public realm, said environmentalist Debi Goenka. The price, he added, would be paid in traffic, construction dust, noise, felled trees, occupied pavements, encroached green spaces and overstretched civic infrastructure.At the centre of the meeting was a blunt question: how much more can Powai take?Kanaya Pursnani urged residents to “wake up”, warning that footpaths, recreational grounds and other public amenities were being treated not as civic assets, but as reservoirs of floor space index (FSI) and transferable development rights (TDR).Ashwini Tulzapurkar said repeated letters to the authorities had gone unanswered and suggested that residents consider filing a public interest litigation. She also alleged that violations across Hiranandani’s sectors were being allowed to benefit from additional FSI or TDR.Pamela Cheema, chairperson of Powai ALM, said the entire Powai-Chandivli corridor would be badly affected by the increased pressure on roads, pedestrian movement, air quality and civic services.Rajan Khanna, one of the area’s oldest residents, recalled the difficulty of a resident moving her ailing father through inaccessible and obstructed routes. He said residents were confronting a powerful network involving the landowner, MMRDA, BMC and private commercial interests, including Brookfield.Khanna also questioned why a Global Capability Centre and related commercial development should be concentrated in an already congested locality when alternative land was available elsewhere.Resident Anoop Khanna said the pavement near Citipark had remained obstructed for nearly seven months despite complaints. He alleged that even a staircase had been blocked and announced that residents would hold a fast outside Brookfield. “Development cannot be at the cost of the peace of the area,” he said.Sripad Tambe called for public protest, saying residents could no longer rely only on letters and representations.The residents demanded restoration of pavements and access routes, disclosure of all FSI and TDR permissions, a cumulative environmental and traffic impact study, public consultation before major approvals and coordinated action by BMC, MMRDA, traffic police and elected representatives.
