Mumbai: People who frequent Marine Drive for pleasant walk have questioned civic authorities’ sincerity in their beautification drive.The problem is lack of garbage and waste collection bins and other civic amenities on the 3.5 km promenade that starts from NCPA at Nariman Point and ends at Girgaum Chowpatty. Regulars using the walkway and residents of the area feel that after spending around Rs30 crore in the first phase of development, the administration seems to be failing to complement its own efforts and help citizens help them.

They believe that appointing clean up marshals to ensure neatness only adds to the authorities’ responsibility to provide amenities. Said Rajeev Jain, resident of Cuffe Parade, “Despite having done a decent job of keeping the walkway clean, they have left people with no other option but to litter the streets or throw the waste in the sea. How long can we carry waste back to home to dispose it? Some arrangement needs to be made.” What adds to the regulars’ woes are tourists who litter the stretch, particularly near Taraporevala Aquarium.

“With no signage being put up, they do not even use the sole public toilet, which is not in a good condition with drug addicts hanging around the premises,” said Himanshu Kapadia, another regular at Marine Drive. The residents association claims to have offered assistance in providing bins, however, not much has been done about it. Said Chandresh Shah, president of Marine Drive Association, “We were willing to provide bins and have written to both BMC and MMRDA but no one has responded. Our requests are pending.”

Source : DNAIndia