News / Author / Chetna Yerunkar

Chetna Yerunkar

Chetna Yerunkar is a Senior Correspondent for Hindustan Times, Mumbai. She is currently covering civic and governance issues for the Mumbai bureau.

Articles by Chetna Yerunkar

Mumbai: BMC panel breather for decrepit buildings

More than 330 of the 561 buildings declared dilapidated by the civic body in south and central Mumbai have been saved from demolition by the technical advisory committee.

cities

Updated on May 25, 2015 10:37 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

As lake levels go down, Mumbaiites' summer water troubles may just begin

With water levels fast depleting in the lakes that supply water to Mumbai, Mumbaiites' woes may have just begun.

cities

Updated on May 22, 2015 11:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbaiites, accept it. Your rides will remain bumpy this monsoon

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has delayed the repair work of almost 22 roads in the Dahisar and Borivli regions by almost a year, and the work will now begin only after the rains.

cities

Updated on May 16, 2015 10:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar

'Fire officer Sudhir Amin was always there when his colleagues needed him'

One of the most skilled firefighters in the fire department, Amin is remembered for his role in rescue operations in the 26/11 terror attacks.

Mumbai-fire-brigade-officals-and-family-members-of-fire-officer-Sudhir-Amin-bid-final-adieu-to-Amin-at-the-Byculla-fire-station-in-Mumbai-Kunal-Patil-HT-photo

cities

Updated on May 14, 2015 11:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar and Vaishnavi Vasudevan, Mumbai

Gokul Nivas revamp: Locals, shopkeepers to join forces with Mhada

The tenants of Gokul Nivas at Kalbadevi have formed a committee that will coordinate with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) to redevelop their building, which collapsed after a blaze on Saturday.

A-portion-of-the-Kalbadevi-building-collapsed-even-as-firemen-continued-to-douse-the-fire-Pratham-Gokhale-HT-photo

cities

Updated on May 11, 2015 11:11 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Congested lanes to wooden beams, all became fuel for fire

Bustling streets in a congested area, narrow lanes, wooden support and cloth stocked inside the building — all these factors turned the fire at Gokul Nivas building on Saturday into a disaster.

cities

Updated on May 10, 2015 01:33 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Battle with blaze went on for 6 hours

It took six hours, 17 fire engines, eight jumbo tankers, three ambulances, two rescue vans and one breathing apparatus van for the fire brigade team to douse the fire at the five-storey building, Gokul Nivas, in the congested Kalbadevi area on Saturday.

cities

Updated on May 10, 2015 01:30 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: BMC to replace paver blocks with stamped concrete on footpaths

After the paver blocks turned out to be a flop show, angering citizens over the waste of public money, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is back with a new plan to improve the condition of Mumbai roads and sidewalks.

cities

Updated on May 05, 2015 10:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: BMC to file affidavits in court about dilapidated structures

With the monsoon less than two months away, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta has asked ward officers and other departments to come up with a plan to tackle the issue of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai.

cities

Updated on May 04, 2015 10:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

16 lakh trees, 298 species found already, BMC census continues

The first phase report of the city-wide tree census being carried out by the civic body has marked about 298 different species of trees already. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has counted more than 16 lakh trees in the first phase of its Global Positioning System-based (GPS) tree census.

cities

Updated on May 02, 2015 01:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

BMC to track garbage trucks across Mumbai

Taking a step towards turning Mumbai into a smart city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has extended its pilot project of tracking garbage collection vehicles to the entire city.

cities

Updated on Apr 30, 2015 10:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: Hancock bridge rebuilding stuck between CR, BMC

Almost a year after it was first proposed, the reconstruction of the 137-year-old Hancock Bridge, above the Sandhurst road station, is stuck because of lack of coordination between the Central Railway and the BMC.

cities

Updated on Apr 30, 2015 09:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: ‘If not 24x7 nightlife, give us 3am deadline’

With the Maharashtra government not making a move on the proposal for a 24-hour nightlife for Mumbai, the India Hotel and Restaurant Association has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to not give up on the idea entirely.

cities

Updated on Apr 23, 2015 11:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

BMC blind to space, solutions?

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has repeatedly failed to plan infrastructure that will solve the problem of hawkers and pedestrians jostling for space in the city streets. While experts have suggested they be rehabilitated in hawker plazas and municipal markets, the BMC has failed to woo hawkers to these spaces.

cities

Updated on Apr 23, 2015 12:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Lack of infrastructure hurts hawkers in Mumbai too

Even though hawking is one the biggest sources of employment in Mumbai and one of the largest means of revenue generation for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body has repeatedly failed to regulate them or come up with a policy that caters to their needs, while keeping the convenience of citizens in mind.

Hawkers-on-Ranade-Road-Dadar-Anshuman-Poyrekar-HT-file-photo

cities

Updated on Apr 22, 2015 03:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

'Taking away hawkers' rights won't solve problems faced by pedestrians'

The civic authorities seem to have successfully pitched residents against hawkers. While residents claim hawkers have taken over their streets, hawkers are of the opinion that proper planning will help hawkers without inconveniencing residents.

Hawkers-encroach-the-foothpath-outside-Dadar-railway-station-Kalpak-Pathak-HT-file-photo

cities

Updated on Apr 21, 2015 10:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: Panel to monitor hawkers hasn’t met in 9 months

Residents from different parts of Mumbai have been participating in protests against the BMC’s hawking policy. But consider this: a committee formed to look into grievances of citizens and hawkers has not met once in the past nine months.

cities

Updated on Apr 20, 2015 10:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: BMC HQ to be fully restored by year-end

Restoration work on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) heritage building is nearing completion, with another floor set to be inaugurated on Tuesday.

cities

Updated on Apr 20, 2015 05:19 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Peddar Road flyover project changes hands, to be funded, built by the BMC

The ambitious Pedder road flyover project, which was planned to curb traffic congestion, faced opposition from the residents and the state government nearly scrapped it.

cities

Updated on Apr 17, 2015 08:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

BMC got only 4,900 suggestions on Mumbai DP in six days

When the Maharashtra CM decided to give the expert panel an extension to study the Mumbai DP, activists and elected representatives had hoped more residents would take the opportunity to send their suggestions and objections.

cities

Updated on Apr 15, 2015 10:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Don’t worry, delay in rains won’t hurt much, Mumbai has enough water till June 30

Even if the monsoon is delayed by a few days, Mumbai won’t face water cuts. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) supplies 3,785 million litres of water to the city daily.

cities

Updated on Apr 15, 2015 10:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: Monsoon yet to arrive, but drain problems have started pouring in

Waterlogged streets, traffic snarls and stranded people — the visuals seen in Mumbai every monsoon are set to make a comeback this year too. Reason: contrary to the civic body’s claims, around 50% of the drain replacement and repair work is yet to be completed.

cities

Updated on Apr 14, 2015 10:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai development plan: As deadline nears, BMC gets 6,000 objections in a week

With new errors coming to the fore with each passing day, the BMC till Wednesday received around 10,115 suggestions and objections to the Mumbai draft development plan (DP) 2034, of which 5,880 were sent last week.

cities

Updated on Apr 10, 2015 07:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai blueprint: BMC got 4,325 suggestions till April 1

Apart from experts and activists, even the BMC is surprised at the low number, and feel that more people need to write in, as the DP is the city’s blueprint for the next 20 years.

cities

Updated on Apr 06, 2015 07:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Mumbai: With stay on new policy, BMC to operate 3 parking lots at old rates

Still waiting for a clearance for the new parking policy, the BMC has decided to continue with the old parking rates and has floated tenders to appoint contractors for three multi-level parking lots in Mumbai.

cities

Updated on Apr 04, 2015 08:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Maharashtra: Panel suggests tax rebates, funds to maintain heritage structures

The Maharashtra government-appointed heritage review committee has recommended several incentives such as rebate on property tax, heritage TDR and offering heritage conservation funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings.

cities

Updated on Apr 03, 2015 07:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

Be heard. 3 weeks left to share your opinion on Mumbai’s blueprint

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set a deadline of April 24 for people to send in their opinions of Mumbai’s blueprint for the next 20 years.

cities

Updated on Apr 02, 2015 04:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

DP proposes higher FSI near Juhu beach

Heritage structures, mangroves and salt pans claimed, the draft development plan for the city also proposes a high floor space index for the Juhu beach and areas around it.

cities

Updated on Mar 29, 2015 12:43 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

No need for new road to Mount Mary Church: residents

Residents of Bandra and conservationists are up in arms against the civic body’s plan to construct a public road over the steps off Mount Mary Church, one of Bandra’s landmark heritage structures.

cities

Updated on Mar 28, 2015 06:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByChetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

BMC's DP threat to heritage structures in Mumbai

Apart from the ecologically sensitive mangroves and salt pans, Mumbai’s draft development plan (DP) could also affect heritage structures, including Bandra’s famous Mount Mary church.

cities

Updated on Mar 28, 2015 04:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByVaishnavi Vasudevan and Chetna Yerunkar, Mumbai

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Chetna Yerunkar

Chetna Yerunkar is a Senior Correspondent for Hindustan Times, Mumbai. She is currently covering civic and governance issues for the Mumbai bureau.

More than 330 of the 561 buildings declared dilapidated by the civic body in south and central Mumbai have been saved from demolition by the technical advisory committee.

With water levels fast depleting in the lakes that supply water to Mumbai, Mumbaiites' woes may have just begun.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has delayed the repair work of almost 22 roads in the Dahisar and Borivli regions by almost a year, and the work will now begin only after the rains.

One of the most skilled firefighters in the fire department, Amin is remembered for his role in rescue operations in the 26/11 terror attacks.

The tenants of Gokul Nivas at Kalbadevi have formed a committee that will coordinate with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) to redevelop their building, which collapsed after a blaze on Saturday.

Bustling streets in a congested area, narrow lanes, wooden support and cloth stocked inside the building — all these factors turned the fire at Gokul Nivas building on Saturday into a disaster.

It took six hours, 17 fire engines, eight jumbo tankers, three ambulances, two rescue vans and one breathing apparatus van for the fire brigade team to douse the fire at the five-storey building, Gokul Nivas, in the congested Kalbadevi area on Saturday.

After the paver blocks turned out to be a flop show, angering citizens over the waste of public money, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is back with a new plan to improve the condition of Mumbai roads and sidewalks.

With the monsoon less than two months away, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta has asked ward officers and other departments to come up with a plan to tackle the issue of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai.

Taking a step towards turning Mumbai into a smart city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has extended its pilot project of tracking garbage collection vehicles to the entire city.

Almost a year after it was first proposed, the reconstruction of the 137-year-old Hancock Bridge, above the Sandhurst road station, is stuck because of lack of coordination between the Central Railway and the BMC.

With the Maharashtra government not making a move on the proposal for a 24-hour nightlife for Mumbai, the India Hotel and Restaurant Association has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to not give up on the idea entirely.

The civic authorities seem to have successfully pitched residents against hawkers. While residents claim hawkers have taken over their streets, hawkers are of the opinion that proper planning will help hawkers without inconveniencing residents.

Residents from different parts of Mumbai have been participating in protests against the BMC’s hawking policy. But consider this: a committee formed to look into grievances of citizens and hawkers has not met once in the past nine months.

Restoration work on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) heritage building is nearing completion, with another floor set to be inaugurated on Tuesday.

The ambitious Pedder road flyover project, which was planned to curb traffic congestion, faced opposition from the residents and the state government nearly scrapped it.

When the Maharashtra CM decided to give the expert panel an extension to study the Mumbai DP, activists and elected representatives had hoped more residents would take the opportunity to send their suggestions and objections.

Even if the monsoon is delayed by a few days, Mumbai won’t face water cuts. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) supplies 3,785 million litres of water to the city daily.

Waterlogged streets, traffic snarls and stranded people — the visuals seen in Mumbai every monsoon are set to make a comeback this year too. Reason: contrary to the civic body’s claims, around 50% of the drain replacement and repair work is yet to be completed.

With new errors coming to the fore with each passing day, the BMC till Wednesday received around 10,115 suggestions and objections to the Mumbai draft development plan (DP) 2034, of which 5,880 were sent last week.

Apart from experts and activists, even the BMC is surprised at the low number, and feel that more people need to write in, as the DP is the city’s blueprint for the next 20 years.

Still waiting for a clearance for the new parking policy, the BMC has decided to continue with the old parking rates and has floated tenders to appoint contractors for three multi-level parking lots in Mumbai.

The Maharashtra government-appointed heritage review committee has recommended several incentives such as rebate on property tax, heritage TDR and offering heritage conservation funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set a deadline of April 24 for people to send in their opinions of Mumbai’s blueprint for the next 20 years.

Heritage structures, mangroves and salt pans claimed, the draft development plan for the city also proposes a high floor space index for the Juhu beach and areas around it.

Residents of Bandra and conservationists are up in arms against the civic body’s plan to construct a public road over the steps off Mount Mary Church, one of Bandra’s landmark heritage structures.

Apart from the ecologically sensitive mangroves and salt pans, Mumbai’s draft development plan (DP) could also affect heritage structures, including Bandra’s famous Mount Mary church.

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