Night hawking zone soon in Md Ali Rd

MUMBAI: Beautifying the congested B ward which comprises areas like Dongri, Umerkhadi and Mohammed Ali Road is nothing short of a challenge for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC), and there are plans afoot to first clear hawker encroachments and rehabilitate vagrants under the bridges to impart an aesthetic look to the ward.

Dedicated hawking zones with night markets, a concept borrowed from Goa, will be implemented first on Mohammed Ali Road, followed by the whole of South Mumbai. The concept was introduced at the behest of guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar after he visited the ward this week.

“South Mumbai becomes dull after 7 pm,” said Sangeeta Hasnale, deputy municipal commissioner. “We are exploring the possibility of utilising spaces that empty out in the late evening and can be used for night markets.

The sites are yet to be identified, but the concept will be implemented in all of South Mumbai eventually from A ward in Fort to E ward in Byculla.”

Hasnale believes that if South Mumbai has markets functioning from 7 pm to 5 am, there will be no overcrowding of shoppers in the morning. “The mornings see an imbalance because of the floating population, which leads to traffic jams that inconvenience local residents,” she said.

“The night markets will put an end to this. We are looking at this project from all stakeholders’ points of view including residents, hawkers and shoppers.”

Among the plans for the hawking zone is a white uniform for hawkers and toilets for the public—pink-coloured toilets for women and urinals for men.