Tendulkar bats for dedicated hawker zone

Cricket icon and Rajya Sabha member Sachin Tendulkar has suggested creation of dedicated hawker zones and other measures to combat various problems faced by Mumbaikars.

In a letter to Mumbai suburban district collector, Tendulkar said, having a "dedicated hawker/food zone will help clear pedestrian area in and around railway stations and on skywalks."

“Pedestrians should be directed to take pavements (where available) or skywalks where constructed and not walk between traffic at station roads. Vacant spaces can be utilised in every suburb for creation of weekly markets with clear markings on space and temporary/permanent hawker zones,” he said.

Tendulkar wrote the letter in August, much before the recent agitation against illegal hawkers by the Raj Thackeray-led MNS erupted.

Batting for a water-based transport system for Mumbai, Tendulkar said "Water-based transport systems are integral to cities like Mumbai. This will help cut down road congestion and also help boost tourism in the city."

“We can draw examples from Hongkong, New York and Singapore that have a dedicated water-based transport system. I have read recent reports of linking the various ferry points such as Gorai/Andheri and others but I sincerely feel if multiple ferries are operated from multiple points in Mumbai, it will provide an alternative for people away from trains and roads," the former India skipper added.

Tendulkar also suggested that dedicated parking spaces be created around roads and outside residential areas so that people follow the parking regulations. Dedicated spaces for autos and taxis in the suburban zones should also be created. Wherever possible parking should be chargeable with parking meters which can serve as a revenue stream for the city authorities, he said.