Mumbai: Lokhandwala residents gear up for unique version of reclaiming roads

Dhaval Shah, founder, Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, the driving body behind organising this campaign. (Right) Prashant Rane, MNS president for ward no. 60

After having to call off their initiative three times earlier this year due to lack of permission(s) from civic authorities and the police, residents of Lokhandwala (Andheri West) will be pouring out onto the streets on November 20 to take part in their first-ever ‘Be Happy' campaign.

Lokhandwala's Backroad will remain closed to traffic from 7 am to 11 am on November 20

Inspired by Bogota's version of conducting an equal street day on a given day of the week, this campaign will enable neighbourhood residents to come forth and enjoy a ‘free street' experience on the morning of November 20.

Love thy neighbour
With permissions from the BMC and joint commissioner of police (law and order) already in place, the event is set to take place on Lokhandwala's Backroad - which will remain closed to traffic from 7 am to 11 am on November 20. Cycling races, sporting and colouring competitions as well as women's self-defence workshops and other activities aimed at building a cohesive bond between residents of this suburban neighbourhood, will be taking place at the venue.

"The event will go on from 7 am till 10 am, after which, the road will be opened to all for a common jam session," said Dhaval Shah, founder, Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, the driving body behind organising this campaign.

"The venue will have various sections dedicated to an assortment of interests such as skating, football, cricket, cycling, as well as taekwondo and workshops on women's self-defence and Latin-American dance. There will also be a number of food and art stalls put up by residents themselves, where they can showcase their makings and sell them. All in all, it's a chance for the locals to come forward and help in building a cohesive neighbour-to-neighbour bond."

From hereon, every third Sunday of the month will be marked by the ‘Be Happy' campaign in Lokhandwala.

Permissions in place
"All required permissions, ranging from traffic to law and order, have already been obtained; we are all set for Sunday," said Prashant Rane, MNS president for ward no. 60. "Having a day to reclaim the streets - where we only see traffic everyday - is important for people to feel connected to their surrounding."

Senior inspector of Versova police station Kiran Kale said, "We will be blocking traffic and providing barricades on Backroad for Sunday's (November 20) event."