Residents of Bandra in Mumbai staged a public protest on Monday. The demonstration took place near the historic Mt Mary Basilica. People gathered to voice their strong opposition against a newly constructed embankment wall.
Overnight Construction Sparks Outrage
The controversy began when construction materials suddenly appeared on the basilica's steps on January 16. Workers started building the wall over the following two nights. By Sunday morning, a complete embankment wall stood on the property.
Local community members noticed the rapid construction. They immediately raised concerns about the project's legality and purpose. Many residents expressed frustration about the lack of prior information.
Community Leaders Take Action
Father Sunder Albuquerque, the vice rector of Mt Mary Basilica, described the situation clearly. He explained that the construction occurred on basilica property located between two housing societies. The work proceeded without proper authorization from the church administration.
On Monday morning, Area Locality Management groups organized a protest demonstration. Former BMC corporator Asif Zakaria joined the gathering. He confirmed speaking directly with the contractor and demanding an immediate work stoppage.
Official Response and Resolution
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation representatives arrived at the protest site along with police personnel. After listening to community concerns, civic officials ordered the construction work to halt completely.
The officials made a significant commitment to the protesters. They agreed to demolish the newly built embankment wall. They also promised to remove all construction materials from the site.
Local residents criticized the project as wasteful expenditure. The BMC document showed the contract work carried a value of twenty-one lakh rupees. The stated purpose involved improving passageways and drainage systems from the basilica gate to Pinglewadi chawl.
Community members questioned why such substantial work began without proper community consultation. The protest successfully achieved its immediate goal of stopping the construction. However, residents continue to demand better transparency from municipal authorities regarding future development projects in their neighborhood.
