2009 - The Year of the Mumbaikar

The Congress has ruled Maharashtra for a decade now, with the last five years being shared with Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The general impression is that they haven't done anything for Mumbai - a view that's quite obvious and perhaps glaring when one looks at how much Delhi has achieved under the same political party in the last decade.

However, to be fair to the Congress, the last couple of years has probably seen more infrastructure progress in Mumbai than any other year in the past. Phase 1 of the Mumbai Metro, the Bandra Sea Link and the MMRDA's various initiatives under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project have all happened in the Congress-NCP tenure. These are clear visible projects that can be seen on the ground, unlike, say, ambitious stuff like the Haji Ali-Nariman Point Sea Link, Phase II of the Metro, etc. etc. - all of which are still on paper.

On the real estate side, the ULCRA was repealed and a housing policy was formulated. Sure, they did nothing for real estate prices or affordable housing but at least there is a move towards transparency in a sector known for it's notoriety. Add smaller projects like the skywalks and a slew of flyovers and one can at least say that the Congress-NCP has done more for Mumbai than the Shiv Sena Government of 1995-1999.

And then there was 26/11. And the deafening silence throughout the Raj Thackeray fiasco. The Congress-NCP Government deserves to be sacked in it's entirety for both these incidents. No Mumbaikar would want to see any politician from either of these parties hold office after their abject failure at the most basic issue - keeping Mumbai safe. What point is development and infrastructure when the city is no longer 'safe'?

Which makes this question the most important one for 2009. Who will you vote for in the Maharashtra State Elections to be held this year?

That is the biggest question for every Mumbaikar in this new year as the state goes to elections.

Here are some of my thoughts on the key political parties in Mumbai:

1. Congress-NCP: Currently, the Congress-NCP combine seems to be stable. The resignations post 26/11 seemed to indicate that the Sharad Pawar-Sonia Gandhi balance, even if it teetered (as was seen in the interminable delay in the choice of CM), ultimately found common ground. R. R. Patil's dismissal was met with Vilasrao's Deshmukh's ouster. And Narayan Rane was - hopefully - despatched to oblivion.

2. Shiv Sena + BSP?: A recent Mumbai Mirror article indicates that Shiv Sena could be tying up with Mayawati. If this is true it might prove one thing - Raj Thackeray has succeeded in spooking his ex-party, to the extent that it would even consider dumping the BJP. But then a lot has changed between the BJP-Sena after the tragic death of the BJP's Pramod Mahajan. While Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari have done their bit to keep relations intact with Bal Thackeray, no one can predict what Senior Thackeray, or even Uddhav, will do. The 2007 BMC victory seems far away now after Raj Thackeray. So, one thing is sure - this is the make or break election for the Shiv Sena. In that situation would the Sena risk it's fortunes with Mayawati?

3. Can the BJP go it alone? The recent campaign featuring Poonam Mahajan (photo below) did not feature Shiv Sena at all.


The BJP hasn't gained anything from it's tie-up with the Sena in Maharashtra. What would it gain if it dumps the Sena and goes it alone? An image makeover for one. And more vote-share for another. But will it take that gamble? Remember, the BJP is gaining ground in states where it had no presence (Karnataka and J&K to name a few). So, would it be better off losing the election, but gaining votes and readying to take on the Congress more directly in the future? or sticking with a partner that has been seriously undermined?

4. Raj Thackeray: One hopes that he finds his place with Narayan Rane in the footnotes of Mumbai's history. Thankfully, the press is also giving him much lesser coverage. Yet, one cannot rule out some antics from him in this election year. Having turned public anger against the Congress and the Marathi Manoos attention from the Shiv Sena he achieved what he wanted. What next? Will he go it alone? For sure, any party that sides with him won't be winning any popularity.

5. Outsiders: Will ordinary Mumbaikars stand for elections? And win? I'm leaving this one open for now.

Politics makes for strange bedfellows. And as the state and general elections come closer in 2009, there will be many politicians jumping beds. Equations will change before they become stable.

I firmly believe that this will be the year of the Mumbaikar. The year in which he gets his say for the MPs he sends to the Parliament and the MLAs he elects in the State Assembly. After five long years, he gets his chance to talk. And this is the only time the politicians will listen.

I hope he thinks for a long time before he chooses his vote. But more than that I hope he votes. This is the one moment when one small dot on his finger changes the fate of his city for the next five years.

The low voter turnout dilemma

In the recent Karnataka state elections, there was a very interesting debate regarding low voter turnout in Bangalore and associated issues of apathy of the urban middle-class, etc. [In fact, if there's any reader from Bangalore, I'd appreciate your views on this, because you'd have a better idea.]

Two articles of note here from the Mint.

1. The first article delves into some reasons as under.
Reason 1:

“The urban rich have other systems by which they can get things done, though it’s not necessarily by bribing (representatives),” says Rajiv Bhargava, head of the Delhi-based Centre for Study of Developing Societies. For instance, telephone and gas connections are freely available, and do not require the intervention of a well-connected local politician.

I was zapped when I read this. The thought itself is mind-boggling. So, the urban person votes because he/she expects the elected representative to get him/her a telephone line or a gas connection? And now since these are freely available, there's no need to vote? And this is democracy? I'm sure there's something to this argument, given that it comes from an expert, so I won't say anything much. I mean if the argument is extended, it supports the fact that slums see much higher voter turnout than middle and upper class - as is mentioned later in the same article .

“A very large part of the middle class in cities has enough money to get along with their lives. They do not depend on anybody for it and that explains why they don’t care,” Bhargava said, adding that it is only the poor who really have a stake in elections.

If extended one might even say that the indifference of those more privileged is justified, because, well, they don't need politicians. Whether it's true or not is debatable and I'll just leave it there.

Reason 2:

Politicians say the commission’s strict stance on campaigning played a negative role. “The Election Commission’s restrictions on campaigning this year and the timing of election day—coinciding with holidays—have contributed to the low turnout,” said K. Chandrashekar, a Congress party candidate from Bangalore’sBasavanagudi constituency and a former mayor of the city.

Not surprising, what else can you expect from a politician, but blame someone else.

Reason 3:

Political parties are used to low voter turnout in Bangalore—even municipal elections here see polling of between 35% and 40%.

This time around, say experts, the situation may have been made worse by the absence of charismatic candidates.

“There is a different kind of mobilization in rural areas where people know each other. It’s not so in cities,” said Sanjay Kumar, a fellow at the Centre for Study of Developing Societies.

Interesting thought. Reminds me of a certain charismatic candidate called Govinda - also a film star - who became an MP and soon enough all but renounced his duties claiming movies was his first priority. I'm also reminded of a how a housing colony in Mumbai achieved 90% voter turnout by making a concerted effort to gather it's residents and take them to vote, throwing in jalebi to keep spirits high (more here). So, I'm not sure I buy this logic either, but still, it comes from an expert.

Reason 4: Coming up next.

2. The second article is by Ramesh Ramanathan, a man I continue to admire for his work. In a well argued, cogent article, Mr. Ramanathan blames faulty electoral rolls for producing a suspect and highly debatable turnout figure.

When we say that voter turnout was 44%, we don’t know how many of these were genuine votes, and how many were proxy votes. Imagine two scenarios: one, where genuine voters were 240 and proxy voting was 200 votes, i.e., (240+200)/1,000; the second, where the genuine voters were 440 and proxy voting was zero, i.e., 40/1,000. Big difference in genuine voter turnout, almost 100%.

Here is what I think has happened in Bangalore this time around: We saw a much larger share of genuine voters — maybe 340 — and a smaller share of proxy voting — maybe 100. This is partly due to greater voter interest, and partly credit to the Election Commission, which worked very hard to reduce proxy voting. This means that genuine voter turnout actually increased by 100 votes, or 15% of the 600 genuine votes that are possible. This isn’t a trivial increase.

This now makes sense and puts things in perspective. Moreover, it points to something positive in society, i.e. people actually voting.

Back home in Mumbai, low voter turnout is an all-too familiar issue. NGO AGNI is doing a fine job, for e.g. in the BMC elections of last year, it (along with another NGO, ADR) even attempted to rate civic candidates, an important exercise that I hope is repeated in the state elections next year. The State Election Commission is doing, what I think, is an excellent effort- online and in the constituencies - for people to get voter ID cards.

So, the question I'm getting at is this - will we see a low voter turnout in Mumbai for next year's state elections? It's obviously too early to say. But I've seen the indifference in educated, highly-educated people. I've seen the sheer 'laziness' in getting a voter ID card and going to vote.

The excuses are all too familiar and go like "But how do I get a voters ID card?" (heard of the Internet? then go here), or "But my vote doesn't count" (yes it does) or "I don't like politicians" (and they don't like you either, but how does that matter?) or whatever. The fact of the matter is that apathy towards voting is real and it happens. I can't change it. I wonder how many of us think voting is a choice. Because I think it's a responsibility.

I don't want to switch on the moral button here, because I can't change your mind. If you have to vote you will. And if you don't want to, you won't. I'll just know that the ministers out there ruling over Mumbai are there because of me, and also because of you.

Turf before city, Thackeray style

My favourite take on the Raj Thackeray controversy came from Cyrus Broacha in CNN IBN's "The week that wasn't". As part of the weather broadcast, Mr. Broacha says that Raj Thackeray has banned winter in Mumbai because he doesn't like anything that comes from the north. While the only way to take Raj Thackeray seriously is to joke about him, if only it were that easy. Yet, thankfully, people in Mumbai are seeing this controversy for what it is: a marginalised politician grasping at straws, a year ahead of elections.

Raj Thackeray's MNS was formed, in 2006, with much fanfare as an inclusive party. Remember this was the same Thackeray that invited Michael Jackson to perform in Mumbai, as part of the Shiv Udyog Sena (website apparently defunct) a scheme to provide employment to the poor, unemployed Marathi Manoos. Till date, no one knows whatever became of that scheme. Ironically, Mr. Thackeray's inclusive "Mee Mumbaikar" campaign, an inclusive effort, also died a quick death.

In the present day, one needs to put this into political perspective. Raj Thackeray's best shot at any meaningful position of power is via an alliance. But with which political party? The Congress is comfortable with the NCP. The Shiv Sena surely won't take him back. The BJP, with it's existing alliance with the Sena, can't tie up with him. Of the smaller parties, the BSP would prefer a stronger partner. Which leaves the SP, which Mr. Thackeray has now taken on, leaving him now completely isolated.

Mr. Thackeray is also increasingly uncomfortable with the Sena's preparations for next year's state assembly elections. Recall, that the Shiv Sena is on a comeback trail, winning the BMC elections last year and with smaller victories like the by-elections in Ramtek. Recall also that late last year, Uddhav Thackeray's stands on relief for debt-ridden farmers (last year he held up the ULCRA repeal over this issue). While the Sena lusts at going it alone on its home-ground, it is also painfully aware that's its partner the BJP is thinking on similar lines, as was obvious by the BJP's cold-shoulder to the Sena in its recent Modi rally in Mumbai. But that's another matter altogether.

So, without any platform, without any alliance, without any achievement, what does it's leader do? Go back to his roots. Only four years back, the Shiv Sena was at Dadar and Borivali stations beating up Biharis as they stepped out for the Railway exams. To that extent, what happened in these last few days isn't without precedent. But today Uddhav Thackeray is playing the same game in a different way. Sample his demands for housing quotas for Maharashtrians, or sample his anti-ULCRA rally earlier this year, an event in which many people were paid to participate.

Make no mistake, the tactics of both the cousins are rooted in the same Sena politics. Turf before city. The difference in the game is that Uddhav wants to be seen as protecting the Marathi manoos by "fighting for their rights", Raj wants to be seen as attacking those threatening the same Marathi manoos. I doubt he's won any supporters with this recent antic. And I think he knew that even before orchestrating the whole incident. Why then? I think he's behaving like any kid faced with a losing position in a game. The natural response to which is - if I can't win, I won't let you win. And that's what this is about.

The law and order situation is obviously deplorable. Ordinary, innocent people getting beaten up for no fault of theirs is criminal. Unfortunately, this is also Mumbai tradition. The Police will expectedly appear late at the incident. FIRs will be filed and quickly forgotten. All the political parties - the Congress, NCP, Sena and BJP - would condemn the incident, while gloating gleefully privately. Not a single one of them will want to go after Raj Thackeray, instead using familiar platitudes like "It will only incite more violence". Privately of course they're all gloating in glee as they now have one less opponent next year.

And yet again, once again it's the Mumbaikar, not the Bihari, not the Marathi, not the "outsider", but the Mumbaikar who bears the brunt of these needless political games.

Farewell Dr. T

The recent controversy involving the resignation of Dr. T. Chandrashekhar reflects a new low for Mumbai. Clearly, Slum redevelopment is, arguably, the most remunerative, the most rewarding thing for any politician (MP, MLA or corporator). It is also, arguably, the biggest ever property scam that Mumbai has seen in it's lifetime.

Here's my idea of how it works.

1. First the Slums - Encroachment is immensely profitable for politicians (MPs, MLAs, corporators, etc.) because (a) it creates a vote-bank and (b) it paves the way for rehab. No wonder then that the best value-added career move for a politican is to become a builder. No nexus there. The politician is the builder (think Marathi manoos flag-bearers Manohar Joshi and Udhav Thackeray, and ultra-premium developer Mangal Prabhat Lodha of Lodha Builders)

2. Then the rehabilitation - Politicians then "hand over" their slum land to builders (often themselves), raking in their money there. The builders get to build commercial and residential plots and also get generous FSI; they rake in their money there. The slum-dwellers lease out their new pad - raking their money there - and go back to stay in the slums (remember "Nayak"?). And anyone else in Mumbai wanting a piece of that money can fake him/herself as a slum-dweller and rake in money there too.

3. And finally MHADA - In cases where MHADA owns the lands where the slums have come up, it has to give a "no objection certificate" for slum re-development by the builder. And MHADA has gladly handed over these NOCs with gay abandon.

Everyone's happy and everyone's rich. After all Mumbai property is among the most expensive in the world.

And what happens to anyone who threatens to upset that well-oiled, age-old machinery? Here's what

Dr. T. Chandrashekhar holds held three positions. (1) Officer on Special Duty for the Dharavi Re-development Project (2) CEO at the Slum Rehab Authority and (SRA) (3) CEO of MHADA.

As the CEO at MHADA, he recently hiked MHADA's ready reckoner rates (i.e. prices at which MHADA sells flats for lower-income and middle-income groups). I'm not sure what impact this would have had because no land in Mumbai gets sold at a discount. In all probability, the land would have been sold at market rates, with the administration pocketing the difference between the ready-reckoner rate and the market rate. So, the move to hike ready-reckoner rates would only be a move towards transparency. And yet, it would knock off a big part of the politicians's income.

As CEO at the SRA, he revoked some slum rehab proposals that were being handed over to private builders, instead of MHADA which - he believed - could benefit from the same re-development. After all, MHADA is owned by the Government.

He basically set himself up. It's bad enough that you "raise MHADA rates making houses more expensive for Mumbai's lower-income and middle-income groups" (nice spin, right?). But then how dare you "impede progress by stopping re-development?". No wonder then that he first got fired from the SRA post and today has resigned as MHADA chief as well. Some newspapers suggest that he's thinking of quitting the IAS altogether, choosing to move toward corporates instead.

Why am I writing so much about him? I think he's the only one person I can think of who has done something for Mumbai's infrastructure. Remember he comes with a track record of transforming Nagpur and Thane. In Mumbai he helped in resolving the impasse over the Mumbai Metro project's viability gap funding, resulting in at least the contract being awarded. When he was the head of the MMRDA he had roads and highways developed as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project.

Sure, there are also enough stories of his "arrogance", his "closeness to a group of builders" and allegations of poor treatment for the people rehabilitated for road-building work under the MUTP. And yes, all projects under the MUTP and MUIP were running late. Dr. T also wanted to ban the Tata Nano because he thought it would mean chaos for Mumbai's traffic.

But here's the thing to wonder. Can you think of anyone - and I mean politician or bureaucrat - that has done something, anything tangible and visible for Mumbai in the last three to five years? And more so, someone with a track record? Someone that the people of Thane came out on the streets to support when the Government wanted to shunt him out? Someone who actually took on the builder lobby?

Do let me know if you can think of someone.

The point is not of adulation or praise for Dr. T. Chandrashekhar. The point is that if we demand performance from the leader/executor of a project, then he was someone who delivered. Those are the facts. Think of all your BMC Commissioners and Chief Secretaries. Think of your corporator, your MP, MLA. Think of anyone who you expect to deliver results.

Can you? If you can, then you better hope that he's still around. Because we just lost one damn good man.

Farewell, Dr. T. Chandrashekhar. Here's wishing you all the best in your corporate avataar. I hope you join the ADA Group. At least then we can hope Mumbai's Metro would actually be built.

Mid-year round-up Mumbai, part 2

Part 1 of my round-up is here. This is the second, and concluding, part. Comments, as always, welcome.

*****

Real estate – going for broke

So, did your dream house get cheaper? Don’t be surprised if it didn’t. And heck, at least it didn’t get any more expensive. Brokers and builders – at least those in suburbs – are now a lot less arrogant than last year. They’re willing to talk, perhaps even negotiate if you’re a “genuine buyer”. Why? courtesy the interest rate hikes earlier this year, which pretty much took the steam off property prices in Mumbai.

But don’t rejoice. “Affordable housing” remains as believable as traffic-free roads in Mumbai. Builders remain firmly in control. And the Government remains firmly indecisive.

The much-hyped, toothless, housing policy was finally tabled in the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly and almost all experts believe it’s impossible to implement. Low-income group houses next to high-income group ones? No way. And what kind of builder would take up such a project? Ironically, the Government wants to encourage a public-private partnership with this policy. Don’t expect to hear too much on this front as we settle into the second half.

Do, of course, expect to hear more on the slum rehabilitation project at Dharavi. This is a project where politicians have made huge amounts of money – illegally. You couldn’t find a better example of the politician-criminal-builder nexus. RTI activist, Shailesh Gandhi, who filed a Public Interest Litigation on this matter, recently sent a mail detailing everything that’s happened – or not – so far. Read here for more details. Meanwhile, almost all of the large, organised, and now listed, developers like DLF, Unitech, HDIL, etc. are all bidding for a piece of what will be a vastly lucrative pie. For everyone.

Funny how the Government is moving with focus on Dharavi, while soft-pedalling on key regulatory issues like the housing policy.

Or like repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act. We’re no closer than we were last year.

Why is repealing the Act so important? Simply because the city needs infrastructure funds from the Central Government, which makes these funds available to cities under their Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). But, cities have to fulfil certain conditions. Like repealing ULCA. And Maharashtra is among the last few states where the law still exists. Even after agreeing to repeal this law – which incidentally was followed in exceptions rather than the rule – the Government isn’t any closer to actually repealing it. It didn’t make it through the winter legislature session last year, and it’s not made it through the monsoon session this year.

So, what do we look forward to in the second half of this year? Property rates aren’t expected to fall, but not many expect a meteoric rise either. Don’t expect anything from the Government to increase supply. The Mill Land sales remain stuck over one issue or another. The housing policy could remain just another ineffectual document. While last year, the CM indicated that the Government might release lands acquired under the ULCA earlier to cool down property rates, nothing of that sort has happened.

Roads – Building bridges

Regular commuters on the western side won’t miss the hectic activity off Bandra Reclamation’s shores. Yup, the Bandra Worli Sealink (BWSL) is hustling and bustling with activity. And Public Works Minister, Shri Anil Deshmukh would give anything to be photographed cutting the ribbon next year, due April 2008. Yes, we’re all waiting. Waiting to be stuck in Worli, which will import Mahim’s traffic jam, once the BWSL is ready. Simply because, without the Worli-Nariman Point Sealink, the traffic could very much just shift from one place to be another, only quicker. Incidentally, the controversial Peddar Road Flyover seems to have gone into limbo.

But enough about South Mumbai.

Another sealink which was proposed 30 years ago, but hasn’t been as fortunate as the BWSL, is the Mumbai Transharbour Link, which would connect Sewri to JNPT (Nhava Seva). Nothing’s happened on this project so far in 2007. Just like nothing’s happened on Reliance’s SEZ plans in and around JNPT, Navi Mumbai. Coincidence?.

Coming back on the western side, if there’s one stretch of major road that the city can be proud of completion, as some sign of some progress, it is the Western Express Highway. Widening of this critical highway, around the Borivali and Kandivali area is almost done. 24km long, 61m wide, strengthened at a cost of Rs200crores. Phew, heave that sigh of relief. And you can see the difference if you’ve driven there. On the other side, a similar job on the Eastern Express Highway is also nearing completion.

On an east-west basis as well, the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) are due for completion between Jan-June 2008. Even the World Bank – which had, btw, suspended funding of the MUTP road component in March-2006 – said it found “tangible process”. Let’s hope it stays that way. After all, in Mumbai, any progress is good progress.

That concludes my round-up. I will revisit these issues for the 2008 curtain-raiser.

Mid-year round-up Mumbai, part 1

My article for the Hafta. Do check out its new look here. Comments welcome.

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Six months into 2007, we take a two-part round-up of where the city is on various key issues.

Politics and governance:

The Shiv Sena + BJP combine won the Municipal elections in February 2007, to the surprise of those who had assumed that the departures of Raj Thackeray and Narayan Rane and the death of Pramod Mahajan had all but decimated this partnership. Surprisingly, the partnership that runs the state – the Congress and the NCP – was the one which fell apart even before the elections began, over the issue of – what else? – how many seats each party would get once they win the elections.

For the Shiv Sena + BJP, this victory, coupled with their win in Ramtek (Lok Sabha constituency election held in April-07) could mark their comeback, well in time for the state polls due in 2009. Confidence in the Sena is running high and there’s already talk of and end to their tie-up with the BJP.

Narayan Rane, the man in charge of “ensuring” a Congress victory in the BMC polls, must be one worried man, having been pretty much marginalised in the overall scheme of things. Another worried man is current Chief Minister Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, with talks doing the rounds that he is on his way out as CM.

Why are these politics important for Mumbai? Simply because these are the people calling the shots on everything. With the BMC back in the control of the Shiv Sena + BJP, expect more clashes between the BMC and the MMRDA (run by the Congress+NCP). We saw it last year and we will see more of it. Think abandoned dug-up roads, unfinished projects, delayed projects, etc. etc.

Moreover, with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena winning a few seats in the BMC polls, they’d now like to consider themselves as a formidable, if small, opposition (read – ready for tie-ups). Sample how they recently filled up a gaping hole outside Shivaji Park with three truck loads of sand. That hole was dug up by the BMC for some work, which was as usual delayed.

If there was one positive sign from the BMC election, it was the victory of lone ranger, Mr. Adolf D’Souza. There’s a lot to learn from this seemingly unnoticed event. Imagine what it means if a bunch of people from one neighbourhood (in this case Juhu) come together in an systematic, almost surgical manner, and get a trusted, proven person elected as a Corporator / Councillor, I think it’s a huge victory for the city. More to his ilk. You get one of these only once every four years. I hope VoteMumbai.com is preparing their next candidates for the 2011 election.

Infrastructure: Rail

Work continues on upgradation of the three routes which are part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). These routes are in varying stages of completion. Target? June 2008.

(a) Borivali – Virar (project known as Borivali-Virar Quadrupling of Rail or BVQR): 26kms, Rs509crores, two tracks. All to double the space on this busy route. This is the project that made the weekend of May 26/27th 2007 unforgettable for rail commuters in the city. 25% of all Western Rail routes between Churchgate and Virar were cancelled or terminated early, for work on the BVQR project. This entire project was supposed to get over on June 30, 2007. I’m not sure of the current status.

(b) Borivali – Mahim: While the MMRDA site states that the line between Santacruz to Borivali has already been laid out, I’m not sure if the stretch between Santacruz and Mahim has been laid out. Although one can clearly see the extra fifth line at Mahim station.

(c) Kurla – Thane: 18kms, Rs166crores, two tracks. 45% complete.

Had enough? That was just Phase I of the project. Phase II involves two new tracks between (a) CST and Kurla and (b) between Thane and Diwa and (c) a sixth line between Borivali and Mumbai Central. The aim of both phases is to ensure that only local trains run between Mumbai Central and Borivali (on Western Side) and between CST and Kalyan (on Central Side).

That was the good news. Now for the…

Mumbai Metro: A.k.a. no progress is really no progress. The Mumbai Metro celebrated its first anniversary of being flagged off on 21st June 2007. One year, not much work. Sure, you can see some snazzy boards that have come up in Versova, but that’s all that’s happened. The project remains plagued by problems relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation of shopkeepe rs, etc. etc. The status, if any, of the project remains unclear and its website is not particularly helpful either.

Coming up soon, a round-up of roads and real estate.

BMC corporators disqualified for faking caste certificate

Elections are always about numbers. Take the recent Bombay Municipality Elections. The ones that decide who runs your neighborhood, and pretty much the city of Mumbai. In Feb-2007, the Shiv Sena-BJP combine won these elections with a majority of 119 seats out of the total 227.

Of the 227 seats, 74 are reserved and caste certificates have to be submitted by the candidates to the Divisional Caste Verification Committee. However, this has to be done after the elections.

These certificates are now being examined by the CVC. Turns out that many of these respected councilors have submitted fake caste certificates. Anything to win the election, I guess.

As per an Indian Express article, these are some of the abovementioned honorable people (full article here) (for a comprehensive list of all the winners, go here)

1. Yadav Lalji Ramkishore — Samajwadi Party
2. Chonkar Manmohan S — Shiv Sena
3. Shaikh Mohammed Hussain— Samajwadi party
4. Pahudkar Rashmi Rane— Shiv Sena
5. Khan Harun Yusuf — NCP
6. Pawar Narayan Janu — Independent
7. Chougule Shirish Chintaman — MNS
8. Pravin Devhare — Shiv Sena
9. Subhash Kanta Sawant — Shiv Sena
10. Mahadeshwar Pandurang — Shiv Sena
11. Dnyanmurti Sharma — BJP
12. Simantini Narkar — Shiv Sena
13. Suresh Gangan — Shiv Sena

Mere disqualification won't hold them back though. Most of them have approached the High Court to stay this order, and would be fairly confident of prolonging the process and holding to the seat for dear life.

Some voices on this matter below, for your perusal:

Shiv Sena councillor and leader of the House Sunil Prabhu—whose party has nine councillors with discrepancies in their caste certificates—is confident that Sena corporators will manage to obtain a stay order. He claims that mere technicalities in the certificates have been intentionally used against these corporators.

“But we are sure that the Judiciary will rule in our favour,” said Prabhu, adding that even if that is not the case, a by-election is not likely to disturb the existing distribution of seats. [>>]

"The scrutiny committee has been unfair to us but we have faith in the high court. Even if by-elections are called for in these wards, we are sure winning of these seats again" said Sunil Prabhu, Sena leader in the BMC.[>>]

Crying foul over the large number of members to be disqualified, Mhadeshwar said, "The committee is working under government pressure. I am an OBC and my caste certificate mentions it. But the committee refuses to recognise it. The committee appears intent on bringing discomfort to the Sena alliance."[>>]

Shiv Sena, however, is sure that it won’t lose any of its members. The party blamed Rane for trying to disqualify corporators of the Sena-BJP combine. “I am very sure that Narayan Rane is behind this disqualification bid as the committee which is verifying the caste certificates comes under the revenue department. Why is it that only the Sena corporators have been issued notices?” questioned Shiv Sena corporator Vishwanath Mhadeshwar.[>>]

Pretty much the state of civic administration in the city, not that you needed any reminders.

BMC Elections 2007 Winners

These are the winners of the recently held BMC Elections.

Meet the 227 people - the Corporators of the Bombay Municipality Corporation (BMC) - who will run Mumbai on a daily basis for the next five years.

Key to read the data: The link in each ward will go to the BMC's page on the ward which will have a lot more details about the ward, i.e. data like population, the address and the phone number of the BMC office, etc. So, ideally, you should know which ward you belong to. Once you do, then search for your electoral ward number and you should find your corporator. If you still can't, leave a comment and I'll dig it out for you.


Ward A
224 Mahatma Phule - Churchgate Museum - Indira Docks
Vijaya Dhulla (Congress)

225 Brabourne Stadium - Colaba Market - Gateway of India
Vinod Shekhar (Congress)

226 Sasson Docks - World Trade Centre - Geeta Nagar
Geeta Kanojiya (Congress)

227 RC Church - Colaba Dandi - Navy Nagar
Prema Vijay Singh (Congress)

Ward B
221 Imamwaada - Dongri
Dyanraj Nikam (Congress)

222 Bengalipura - Princess Docks
Ansari Iklakh (Congress)

223 Musafir Khana - Victoria Docks
Waqarunnisa Ansari (Congress)

Ward C
217 Durgadevi Udyan - Madhavbaagh - Bhuleshwar
Vijay Vashirde (Shiv Sena)

218 Chandanwaadi - Chira Bazaar - Gymkhana
Vishakha Pednekar (Shiv Sena)

219 Mumbadevi - Mulji Jetha Market - Dhobi Talav
Janak Sanghavi (BJP)

220 Khara Talav - Null Bazaar - Ghoghari Mohalla
Gulshan Chauhan (Congress)

Ward D
210 Bellasis Chawl - Navjivan Society
Anahita Rusi Mehta (Congress)

211 Willingdon Sports Club - Bhatia Hospital
Bhavna Koli (Congress)

212 Mahalakshmi - AC Market - Oomer Park
Arvind Bane (BJP)

213 Priyadarshini Park - August Kranti Maidan
Yogita Singh Juikar (BJP)

214 Kamla Nehru Park - Rajbhavan
Pramod Mandrekar (Congress)

215 Prarthana Samaj - Opera House
Meenal Juvatkar (Shiv Sena)

216 Harkisandas N. Hospital - Khetwaadi
Kokila Parmar (BJP)

Ward E
202 Veermata Jijabai Udyan - Ghodapdeo - Mazgaon Docks (North)
Advocate Mangesh Bansod (NCP)

203 Kasturbha Hospital - India United Mills
Ramakant Rahate (Shiv Sena)

204 Byculla Railway Station - Municipality Colony
Vandana Gawli (ABS)

205 Nair Hospital - Byculla Agnishamakdal
Geeta Gawli (ABS)

206 Mazgaon Court - Madanpura
Afreen Fayyaz Ahmed (Congress)

207 Anjirwaadi Dockyard - Mazgaon Dock (East)
Yeshwant Jadhav (Shiv Sena)

208 Mastan Talav - JJ Hospital - Sales Tax Bhavan
Shaikh Rabiya Iqbal (Congress)

209 Kamathipura
Amin Patel (Congress)

Ward F-South
195 Ranjit Studio - Naigaon BDD Chawl
Shakuntala Mane (Congress)

196 Naigaon Police Parade Ground - BPT Hospital
Sunil More (Congress)

197 Mahatma Gandhi Nagar - Bhoiwaada
Parvati Gorivale (Shiv Sena)

198 India United Mills - Nare Park Sanjay Ambole (Shiv Sena)

199 KEM Hospital - Rajkamal Studio
Anil Pawar (Shiv Sena)

200 Veterinary Hospital - Abhyudaya Nagar
Dilip Shinde (Shiv Sena)

201 Cotton Green - Shivdi Fort
Prakash Chalke (Shiv Sena)

Ward F-North
165 Pratiksha Nagar - Sion
Mangesh Satamkar (Shiv sena)

166 Salt pans - Sion Trasit Camp
Ravi Raja(Congress)

167 LT Bloodbank - Shanmukhanda Hall
Upendra Doshi(Congress)

168 Ravli Hill
Harvinder Kaur Maniktala(Congress)

169 CGS Colony - Sector #3
Shraddha Jadhav(Shiv sena)

170 CGS Colony - Antop Hill
Niyaz Ahmed Vanu (NCP)

171 Sangam nagar
Darji Faridabanu (SP)

172 Korba Mithagar - Wadala saltpan
Presila Anil Kadam (Congress)

173 Lepers Home - BPT Hospital Colony
Hemant Doke (Shiv Sena)

174 Hindu Colony - Parsi Colony
Raghunath Thavai (Congress)

Ward G-South
186 ST Depot - Western Railway Workshop
Manohar Kamble (Shiv Sena)

187 TV Center - Prabhadevi
Jyoti Bhosale (Shiv Sena)

188 Worli Village
Sanjay Agaldhare (Shiv Sena)

189 Worli Dairy - Sasmira
Madhukar Dalvi (Shiv Sena)

190 Worli Dairy BDD Chawl
Jagdish Sawant (Shiv Sena)

191 Gandhinagar - Dawn Mills
Ashish Chemburkar (Shiv Sena)

192 Mahalakshmi Race course - Nehru Planetarium
Parshuram Desai (IND)

193 Shantinagar - Arthur Road Jail
Chandrakant Pugaonkar (BJP)

194 Parel BDD Chawl
Sunil Shinde (Shiv Sena)

Ward G-North
175 Bandra Kurla Complex - Mahim Kaala Killa
Parvati Dattu Katake -

176 Dharavi Transit Camp
Naresh Mane (Congress)

177 Kakkyadevi Mandir (Dharavi) - Khambadevi Nagar - Mukund Nagar
Sunanda Suryawanshi (Shiv Sena)

178 Western India Tanneries
Mahendra Shinde (Congress)

179 Mahim - Sonapur Labour Camp
Hanumanta Nandepalli (Congress)

180 Estrella Battery Company - Rajarshi Shahu Nagar
Mangala Gaikwad (Congress)

181 Mahim Killa - Mahim Police Quarters - Mahim Creek
Santosh Parab (Shiv sena)

182 Sitladevi Temple - National Hospital
Meena Desai (Congress)

183 Ruparel College - Matunga Workshop
Ajit Pandit (Shiv Sena)

184 Kaamgaar Krida Kendra - Dadar Railway Sthanak
Snehal Jadhav (Shiv sena)

185 Ravindra Natya Mandir - Shivaji Park
Pravin Devhare (Shiv sena)

Ward H-West
92 Khira Nagar - Saraswat Colony
Mohan Lokegaokar(Shiv sena)

93 Vitthaldas Nagar - Madhu Park (Khar West)
Ad.Ashish Shelar (BJP)

94 Khar Danda - Chuim Village
Vilas Chavri (IND)

95 Union Park - National College
Kavita Rodrigs (Congress)

96 Bandra Court - Pali Market - National Library
Asif Ahmed Zakeria(Congress)

97 Lilavati Hospital - Bandra Bus Terminal
Khan Rahebar (IND)

Ward H-East
81 Prabhat Colony - Anand Nagar
Ad.Dharmesh Vyas (Congress)

82 Vivekanand Nagar
Baliram Ghag (Shiv sena)

83 University Campus - Dharamsi College
Sanjay Potnis(Shiv sena)

84 Kalina Village - Santacruz
Terattil Alice Johnson (Congress)

85 Bharat Nagar (East)
Lalji Yadav (SP)

86 TPS 3 - Santacruz -Ashok Nagar
Vishwnath Mahadeshwar (Shiv sena)

87 Davri Colony - Khar Rifle Range
Krushna Parkar(BJP)

88 Teachers Colony - Jawahar Nagar
Sujata Mhaskar (Shiv sena)

89 Government Colony - Bharat Nagar (West)
Prakash Sawant (Shiv sena)

90 Bandra Terminus - Nirmal Nagar
Manmohan Chonkar (shiv sena)

91 Kherwadi
Mohmad Yunus Sheikh (Sp)

Ward K-East
66 Bandekarvaadi - Ismail College - Natwarnagar
Ujjwala Modak (BJP)

67 Jogeshwari Caves - Majasvaadi
Suresh Gangan(Shiv sena)

68 Meghwaadi - Shivneri Nagar
Ravindra Waikar(Shiv sena)

69 Shankarwaadi - Parsi Panchayat
Shailesh Parab(Shiv sena)

70 Squatters Colony - Tolani College
Shiekh Sabirabi (Congress)

71 Gundavali-Gaothan(West)
Rupali Pawaskar(Congress)

72 Gundavali (East) - ISIS Hospital
Ramesh Latke(Shiv sena)

73 Vyaravali - MIDC
Clive Dias (Congress)

74 Vijay Nagar - Bhavani Nagar
Roshan Dudvadkar (Congress)

75 Sahar Airport - Maroshi Village
Kamlesh Rai (Congress)

76 Chakala - Sahar Airport
Subhash Sawant(Shiv sena)

77 Sahar Village - Bamanvaada
Nitin Salagre (Congress)

78 MV College - Vijay Nagar - Coal Dongri
Manohar Panchal(Shiv Sena)

79 Tejpal Scheme - Paranjpe Scheme (Vile Parle East)
Shashikant Patkar (Shiv sena)

80 Vile Parle East Telephone Exchange
Chandrakant Pawar(BJP)

Ward K-West
53 Oshiwara - Bandivali (East)
Sayyad Bargena (SP)

54 Tarapore Garden
Rajul Patel (Shiv sena)

55 Swami Samarth Nagar
Yashodhar Phanse (Shiv sena)

56 Versova (North)
Chhaya Bhanji (Shiv sena)

57 Adarsh Nagar - Amboli Hill
Raju Pednekar (Shiv sena)

58 Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul - Malcolm Bagh
Vishnu Korgaonkar (Shiv sena)

59 Saat Bangla - Versova (South)
Devendra Amberkar (Congress)

60 Manish Nagar - Bhavans College
Jyotsna Dighe (Congress)

61 Gilbert Hill - Andheri Market
Khatija Makwana (Congress)

62 Lallubhai Park - Shreeram Jharoka
Bharti Ghongade (Congress)

63 BhaktiVedanta Mandir - Cooper Hospital
Adolf D'souza(IND)

64 SNDT - University Campus - Juhu Airport
Barudgar Aziz (Congress)

65 Vileparle (West) - Mithibai College
Jayanti Siroya (Congress)

Ward L
150 Tungve Village - Chandivali Village (West)
Sharad Pawar (Congress)

151 Chandivali Village (East)
Chitra Sangale (Shiv Sena)

152 Mohili Village
Kamlakar Jamsandekar (Shiv Sena)

153 Kajupada Hill - Asalpha Village
Harish Shukla (Shiv Sena)

154 Kamani Industries - Sakinaka
Shaila Lande (MNS)

155 Jari Mari
Annamalai S (Congress)

156 Premier Automobiles - Home Guards Training Centre
Sitaram Tiwari (BJP)

157 Wadia Estate - Hole Village - Premier Automobiles
Rajhans Singh (Congress)

158 Kurla Village - Dayanand Vidyalaya
Narayan Pawar (IND)

159 Vinoba Bhave Nagar
Shajiya Azmi (IND)

160 Kurla Terminus - Kaamgar Nagar
Shantaram Naik (Shiv sena)

161 Shikshak Nagar
Abdul Rashid Malik (NCP)

162 Nehru Nagar - Bhabha Hospital - Takia
Anuradha Pednekar (Shiv sena)

163 Kasai waada - Everhard Nagar
Rajendra Lad (MNS)

164 Swadeshi Mill - Eye Hospital
Vidya Bhoir(Shiv Sena)

Ward M-West
142 Anik - Mahul Village - RCF
Rajendra Mahulkar (NCP)

143 Suman Nagar - Sindhi Society
Jayashree Kharat(BJP)

144 Siddharth Colony - Vasant Park
Kisan Raju Mistry(Congress)

145 Sahakar Nagar
Gautam Sable (RPI)

146 Subhash Nagar - Beggars Home
Prakash Fatrphekar (Shiv sena)

147 Borla (Central) - Ghaatla Village
Mangala Kate (Shiv sena)

148 Jyoti Nagar - Rahul Nagar
Babasaheb Bansode (RPI)

149 Tilak Nagar - Chheda Nagar
Rajiv Chaugule (Shiv sena)

Ward M-East
129 Lotus Colony Rafiq Nagar
Suresh Patil (IND)

130 Shivaji Nagar #1
Anjum Fatima Aslam(IND)

131 Bainganwaadi
Sheikh Nurjaha (SP)

132 Shivaji Nagar #2 (West)
Sheikh Asma Ahmed Badshah (SP)

133 Shivaji Nagar #2 (East) - PMG Colony
Chaodhari Fazlurehman(SP)

134 Mankhurd Village - Mandala Village
Nirmaldevi Sigh(Congress)

135 Cheetah Camp
Sheikh Mohmad Farukh(IND)

136 Anushakti Nagar (BARC) - Trombay
Rahul Shewale (Shiv sena)

137 New Gautam Nagar
Vitthal Lokare(Congress)

138 Deonar Abbatoir
Sujata Vaghmare(RPI)

139 Deonar Village - Mankhurd Childrens Home
Shashikant Patil (Congress)

140 RCF Township
Devidas Borse(Congress)

141 Adarsh Nagar - HPCL - Anik Village
Rukmini Kharatmol(BJP)

Ward N
117 Rahul Nagar
Kashinath Tharli (Shiv sena)

118 Park Sight Colony - Vikroli Village
Khan Harun Yunus (NCP)

119 Damodar Park - Sanghani Estate
Saraswati Bhosale (Shiv sena)

120 Sarvodaya Hospital
Kumar Pandey (Shiv sena)

121 Bhimnagar - Ramnagar
Pravin Chheda(BJP)

122 Bhatvaadi - Barve Nagar
Shubhangi Shirke (Shiv sena)

123 Chirag Nagar - Narayan Nagar
Ashwini Mate (shiv sena)

124 Kirol Village - Ramji Ashar School
Shobha Ashar(BJP)

125 Pant Nagar
Suresh Golatkar (Congress)

126 Ramabai Nagar
Rakhi Jadhav (NCP)

127 Garodia Nagar - Somaiya College
Bhalchandra Shirsat (BJP)

128 Kamraj Nagar
Parmeshwar Kadam (MNS)

Ward P-South
45 Bangur Nagar - Sundar Nagar
Vidya Thakur (BJP)

46 Dindoshi - Pandurangvaadi
Shantu Bhosale (Shiv sena)

47 Aarey Colony (East)
Sunil Prabhu (Shiv sena)

48 Nirlon - Krishi Vidyapeeth - Jayprakash Nagar
Sumangal Koltharkar (Shiv Sena)

49 Unnat Nagar - Motilal Nagar #2
Sameer Desai (Congress)

50 Patkar College - Shastri Nagar
R.R. Pillai (Congress)

51 Motilal Nagar #1 - BEST Bus Depot
Dilip Shinde (Shiv sena)

52 Sidharth Nagar - Jawahar Nagar
Dilip Patel (BJP)

Ward P-North
29 Manori - Marve - Erangal - Akse - Daravli - Madh Beat
Renuka Dive (Shiv sena)

30 Vadnai Village - Kharodi Village - Malvani Colony
Suvarna Mdyalkar (Congress)

31 Adarsh Dughdalaya - Evershine Nagar
Jaya Tivana (Congress)

32 Bhadaran nagar - Maamledarwaadi
Baldevsingh Manku (Congress)

33 Pushpa Park
Dr.Ram Barot (BJP)

34 Tanaji Nagar
Anita Ghag (MNS)

35 Appa waadi
Bhomsingh Rathod (Congress)

36 Malad Hill Reservoir
Vidya Chavan(NCP)

37 Malad West (BMC Nagar)
Sadashiv Patil (Shiv sena)

38 Dhanjivaadi - Narsobavaadi - Kokani Paada
Ajit Raorane (NCP)

39 Pimpri Pada - Pathanwaadi
Ganpat Varise (Shiv sena)

40 Raheja Complex - Dindoshi
Ad.Dyanmurti Sharma (BJP)

41 Makrani Paada
Dikshita Shah (Congress)

42 Liberty Garden - Nadiadwala Colony
Supriya Pawar (MNS)

43 New Collectors Colony (Malad)
Aslam Sheikh (congress)

44 New Collectors Colony - MHB Colony
Sarika Gracious (NCP)

Ward R-South
18 Charkop (South) - Kandivali (West)
Shubhda Gudekar(Shiv sena)

19 Charkop - Industrial Estate
Kamlesh Yadav(congress)

20 Mahavir Nagar - Dahanukar vaadi
Shailaja Girkar (BJP)

21 Naravane Sanskritik Kendra - Arya Chanakya Nagar
Raju Vyas (congress)

22 Poisar Village Kandivali (West)
Shivkumar Jha (IND)

23 Poisar (East) - Rajaram nagar - Ashok Nagar
Ashok Sawant (shiv sena)

24 Samta Nagar - Dattani Park
Kshitija Pujary (Shiv Sena)

25 Damupada (Kandivali)
Rameshsingh Thakur (Congress)

26 Samta Nagar - M&M (Kandivali)
Ajanta Yadav (congress)

27 Devji Bhimji Colony - Paras Nagar
Yogesh Sagar (BJP)

28 Iranipada - Kandivali (West)
Geeta Yadav (Congress)

Ward R-Central
8 Gorai - MHB Coloni (Juni)
Sadanand Surve (Shiv sena)

9 Govind Nagar - Yogi Nagar
Vinod Ghedia(BJP)

10 Daulat Nagar - Nancy Colony
Namdeo Khursange (NCP)

11 Buncy Nagar - Tata Power House
Shirish Chaugule (MNS)

12 Dattpada
Vinay Patil (congress)

13 Rajendra Nagar - Khatau Estate
Simintini Narkar(Shiv sena)

14 Borivali TPS 3 - Kora Kendra
Pravin Shah (BJP)

15 Exser - Mamledar Vadi
Mohan Mithbaonkar (BJP)

16 Chikuvadi - Kanti Park - MHB Colony (New)
Bharti Keni(BJP)

17 Charkop (North)
Sandhya Doshi (NCP)

Ward R-North
1 Kandarpada IC Colony
Sheetal Mhatre (congress)

2 Gaodevi Dahisar (East)
Bhalchandra Mhatre (Shiv sena)

3 Ketakipada - Shailendra Nagar
Rajendra Choube (congress)

4 Vaishali Nagar
Bhavna Bhagat (Shiv sena)

5 Ashokvan - Chintamani Nagar
Sujata Patekar(Shiv sena)

6 Ambavadi - Ovripada
Prakash Karkar (Shiv sena)

7 Mandapeshwar
Dr.Shubha Raul (Shiv sena)

Ward S
104 Milind Nagar - Gaodevi Hills
Suresh Koparkar(Congress)

105 Bhandup village
Sangeeta Patil (congress)

106 Gaodevi
Suresh Shinde (Shiv sena)

107 Nardas nagar
Ramesh Korgaonkar (Shiv sena)

108 Kokan Nagar - Bhattipada
Snehlata Dalvi(Shiv sena)

109 Hanuman Nagar - Farid Nagar
Kashinath Karadkar ( Congress)

110 Datar Colony - CGS Quarters
Bharti Pisal (NCP)

111 Kanjur Village
Minakshi Patil(Shiv sena)

112 Kannamvaar Nagar
Mangesh Sangale (MNS)

113 Tagore Nagar
Tavji Gorule(shiv sena)

114 Hariyali Village Godrej Colony
Rashmi Pahudkar(Shiv sena)

115 Aden Bungalows - Tirandaz Village
Charu Sharma (NCP)

116 Vihar Lake - Powai Lake - Passpoli Village
Anjali Darade (Congress)

Ward T
98 Mulund Colony - Tulsi Talav
Vishwanath Maske(BJP)

99 Mulund Checknaka - ISIS Hospital
Manoj Kotak (BJP)

100 Topivala College - Gavanpaada-MHADA Nagar
Jyoti Vaity (Shiv sena)

101 Nane Paada - Palm Acres
Prabhakar Shinde (Shiv sena)

102 Mulund - Central
Amita Shah(BJP)

103 Johnson & Johnson - Sarvodaya Nagar - Nahur Village
Dr.A.K.Sokhi(Congress)