Sewri High-Rise Residents Announce Silent March Against Civic Apathy
Residents of several high-rise residential complexes in Sewri, Mumbai, have declared a silent march scheduled for this weekend. This protest aims to highlight what they describe as years of civic apathy and unchecked illegal activities in the area. The demonstration focuses on unauthorised hawking, encroached footpaths, illegal parking, and persistent noise pollution—issues that residents claim have rendered daily life increasingly unsafe and unliveable.
Decade-Long Struggle with Civic Neglect
The agitation follows repeated complaints lodged with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), local police, and elected representatives. Residents allege that enforcement efforts have been sporadic and largely cosmetic, failing to address the root problems. According to locals, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that confrontations between residents and hawkers have begun to occur regularly.
Residents of Dosti Flamingo, a large housing complex with approximately 2,500 residents across multiple towers, report being the most affected. Rajendra Ghag, secretary of the society, stated that the problems have persisted for nearly a decade despite continuous follow-ups. “For the past 10 years, we have raised complaints. There is no proper footpath, roads are taken over by hawkers, and unauthorised parking leaves no space even to walk. On top of this, loudspeakers blare throughout the year at the BMC ground during kabaddi matches, cricket tournaments, and community events. It has become impossible to live peacefully,” Ghag explained.
Widespread Impact Across Multiple Complexes
Ghag added that these issues impact at least 15,000 people residing in eight to ten high-rise buildings, including:
- Ashoka Gardens
- Celestia Spaces
- Lodha Aria
- Rishabh Garden
- Crimpton Tower
- Girnar Tower
Residents have also flagged specific problem areas, such as the unauthorised Ram Tekdi fish market and hawker clusters near Sewri market and along T J Road. They allege that these operations function with local political patronage, further complicating enforcement efforts.
Residents Demand Permanent Solutions
“There is a perception that high-rise residents do not face civic problems. This protest is meant to break that myth,” Ghag emphasized. Another resident, Minitha Saxena, argued that temporary actions are insufficient. “Hawkers are removed for a few days and then return. We do not want token action. Either relocate them to a suitable place or enforce the law consistently,” she asserted.
Saarthi Mukherjee, a local resident, highlighted the severe compromise to pedestrian safety. “It has become impossible to walk on this road. Vehicles are forced to brush past pedestrians. Children cannot cross safely,” he said, adding, “We are peace-loving, tax-paying citizens. Hundreds of voters here have been deprived of basic civic rights.”
Organized Protest and Call for Action
Residents have submitted memorandums and met with candidates across party lines, yet enforcement remains inconsistent. The silent march, set for February 14, will be conducted in accordance with police guidelines. Ghag noted that if authorities take firm and permanent action before the march, residents are willing to publicly felicitate officials from the BMC, police, and Regional Transport Office (RTO) as a gesture of appreciation. “This is not political. This is about basic civic order. Enough is enough,” he concluded.
