The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday took action to address a dangerous open drain near Sion railway station, covering it with a new lid and cleaning the surrounding area. The work was completed before 11 am, according to nearby shopkeepers.
The open drain had posed a serious risk to commuters using the busy area. The civic response came after the hazard was brought to public attention following an incident in which a commuter slipped into the drain and sustained injuries.
The quick action has provided relief to commuters and local shopkeepers. Still, the incident has also raised concerns over the need for regular inspections and maintenance of public spaces around major transport hubs.
Commuter Questions Delayed Action
Jayraj Bhosale, who slipped in the open drain and got injured, welcomed the civic action but said authorities should have acted earlier.
“I am thankful that at least after the media highlighted the issue, the drain has been covered and the area has been cleaned. I hope no one else gets hurt. It is good that the authorities have finally taken action.”
Other commuters questioned why the hazard was addressed only after it received media attention.
Pratik Jadhav, commuter, said, “Why does everything have to be taken up by the media before the authorities pay attention? This was a visible hazard in a busy area used by hundreds of people every day. It should have been identified and fixed during routine inspections.”
Nandini Keluskar, commuter, said, “The BMC has policies and plans for maintaining roads, drains and public spaces. But what is the point of having these plans if implementation remains a problem? Authorities should not wait for an accident or a media report to act.”
Amruta Gokhale, commuter, said, “The drain has been covered because someone fell in and the issue was highlighted. What about other dangerous spots that may not have come to the media’s attention yet? The BMC needs a proper monitoring system.”
Source: Mid-Day
