Let’s treat eastern suburbs like we do the western side

The portion of the house that collapsed at Kherwadi, Bandra, on Monday. Pics/Sameer Markande

It is time to focus on Bandra East in light of yet another structure collapse and the unfortunate death of a young man. On Monday morning, a youth lost his life after a portion of a wall fell on another structure. The man from Bihar was in Mumbai to work. He was buried under the debris just like some others who sustained injuries.

The collapse may be a grim harbinger of things to come as the monsoon gains traction. Yet, it should also serve as a harsh reminder to local netas, elected representatives that the entire pocket in the east needs looking into and much work.

The station area on the east side, in contrast to the west, is in poor condition. Slums proliferate with many structures resembling slum high-rises if one could call it that, with those living there going vertical with a vengeance and adding floors to an already weak structure. The few that have been demolished post a fire some time ago, leave their mark through mounds of debris. Though lockdown is different, in normal times, public transport from the station is horrendous and rickshaws and people joust dangerously for space.

Elsewhere too, decrepit housing in need of repairs stands shakily facing yet another monsoon. The rain means the area is flooded completely making walking difficult if not life-threatening. This waterlogging is always blamed on the Mithi river in the vicinity. Precarious housing is blamed on builders defaulting on redevelopment and lumping people into transit camps.

There may be a myriad reasons, but the suburb needs better infra, and a general upgrade when it comes to living conditions for people, commuting, and safer spaces in all ways. Across the spectrum we see the west side of the suburbs much more upscale while the east comparatively less. Let us change this status quo and Bandra East seems an apt place to begin.