Malabar Hill’s voters demand quieter roads, green initiatives

Mumbai:For nearly three decades, Mangal Prabhat Lodha has held the Malabar Hill constituency unchallenged. A six-time winner since his inaugural victory in 1995, Lodha is facing a fledgling opponent, Bherulal Choudhary, who last fought an election as a student.Residents who have seen the area alter with the coming up of the coastal road and the interchange, rapid redevelopment, and some encroachment want peace and tranquility and the locality's verdant corridors to remain untouched. They want the air to be clean, the hill to quieten its pace of redevelopment, an urban forest on reclaimed land, and more parking facilities for their private vehicles."As an old-timer, I understand what this locality needs," said Lodha. "Every resident knows I'm just a call away." He highlighted his long-standing support, from saving New Era School to building public toilets, protecting the Malabar Hill reservoir, and championing skilling programmes and sports festivals for the youth.Choudhary, a practising advocate and challenger in the race, paints a stark picture of the area's disparities: Slums with water only for a few hours, and Breach Candy plagued by drug peddlers. "I'm visiting society after society, asking for their vote," he said. When questioned about balancing his legal career with public service, his response was practical: "It's about managing time wisely."The constituency is a mosaic of communities—1 lakh Gujaratis and Marwaris, 60,000 Jains, 80,000 Maharashtrians, 15,000 Muslims, nearly 6,000 Parsis, 3,000 Christians, and others from North India—all navigating the tensions of rapid development."We've always been a busy neighbourhood, but the changes have driven us to organise," said Nandini Chabria of the Breach Candy ALM. Residents are rallying for solutions: An exit at Nepean Sea Road to ease the traffic gridlock from Bhulabhai Desai Road's interchange, and a biodiverse urban forest in the coastal road's green space. "We need a single point person to address these pressing issues," added Mamta Mangaldas, co-founder of the Breach Candy Residents' Forum. Their message is clear—progress must honour both people and the neighbourhood.Friends of Malabar Hill Constituency is a residents' forum championing the preservation of open spaces and green cover that define the neighbourhood's character. "Protect the Hanging Garden and its surrounding woods," they demand. "This natural heritage isn't just aesthetic; it's our shield against rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect."The four-page citizen manifesto lays out 11 urgent priorities: Better public transport, smarter parking solutions, a tree census, and safeguarding the stability of Malabar Hill itself. "I know exactly which parts of the hill need reinforcement and have already pushed the BMC to act," said Lodha. His vision includes a 500-acre forest surrounding the Coastal Road and Racecourse, improved water supply, reclaiming encroached pavements, and escalators at Grant Road, Charni Road, and Mumbai Central stations.Choudhary, meanwhile, has not drafted a manifesto, preferring instead to rely on his firsthand understanding as a resident. Long-time resident Ashok Gajera "echoed the thoughts of many" when he said, "We've voted for one person for decades, and that says a lot." Will Mumbai's most elite constituency see a shift in its leadership? Only time will tell.
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