BMC polls: With patchy services, P East braces for 1st election test minus a ward officer; candidates tackle traffic, water and slum issues

MUMBAI: The newly carved P East administrative ward is seeing the same political and civic churn as the rest of the city, with redrawn boundaries, uneven infrastructure and mixed demographics influencing the contest.Prashant Mahadik, MNS shakha pramukh from Malad (East) and the MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from electoral ward No. 36, says recent changes in ward boundaries have altered the area’s demographics, shifting 10,288 Marathi voters out of his ward into ward No. 29 in Kandivli (East).

“The reason provided is the Development Control and Promotion Regulation (DCPR) 2034, but it is clear the decision is political. It may favour a political party, but for those residents who still receive services from the P North ward, it is going to be an uphill task to access them.

They now have to go to R South,” he said, adding that the problems faced by his poll ward reflect those across the entire administrative ward. Narrow roads, hilly terrain, uneven and inadequate water supply, and stalled slum rehabilitation projects continue to plague residents.The ward, recently carved out of the larger P North ward, is still grappling with structural gaps. It does not have a dedicated ward officer, and its ward office does not offer the full range of civic services.

Most poll wards fall under the Dindoshi Assembly constituency, except No. 36, which is split between the Dindoshi and Kandivli (East) constituencies.Spread across both sides of Western Express Highway, the new ward includes several large slum clusters alongside a few planned residential pockets. The population is socially diverse, with a major Marathi and Muslim presence, as well as sizeable communities from the Hindi belt.

Both Sena (UBT) and MNS have a strong organisational base here.In neighbouring ward No. 45, BJP candidate Nirav Barot is banking on both legacy and local issues. His father, the late Dr Ram Barot, represented the ward six times in the past. Barot identified traffic congestion and air pollution as pressing concerns, alongside the long-standing issue of hawkers.“Traffic congestion and air pollution are major issues, as are hawkers, but the latter are daily wage earners and what is needed is an amicable solution, not eviction.

There are four to five large municipal grounds that, after 6 pm, can be used for markets. People can safely park their cars and shop. The hawkers, instead of paying hafta, can directly pay the BMC a fee for the use of the ground,” he said.Barot described his ward as a mix of housing societies and slums, each facing distinct challenges. “There are several redevelopment projects underway and this is only going to create a traffic gridlock.

The government needs to push for cluster redevelopment with minimal entry and exit points on the highway,” he said.Closer to the Dindoshi Hills lies the historic Nagari Nivari Housing Complex, which was built following years of agitation led by the late Mrinal Gore. Ward Nos. 40 and 41 have traditionally been Sena (UBT) strongholds, though electoral outcomes here have not always followed party lines. In 2017, Tulshiram Shinde, then a Sena rebel, won No.

41 as an independent. With it now reserved for the OBC community, Shinde is contesting from No.

40 as the Sena (UBT) candidate. “I have been in public service for the last 35 years and interpersonal relations matter. The alliance will help. Problems are common between the two wards -traffic, hawkers and in the Mhada layouts there is the issue of inadequate water supply. Also, on the east of the highway there is no civic hospital. My objective will be to resolve all these issues.”