Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde took immediate action upon receiving a complaint via WhatsApp about an open nullah near the under-construction drainage system at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi. The issue was resolved the same day, with the nullah being covered and the remaining civil work completed promptly.
Madhu Shankar, a resident of Vashi, visited the APMC market to buy household items when she noticed an open nullah near the construction site. The area was not barricaded, and she observed that the opening was large enough for three people to fall in simultaneously.
Acting swiftly, she alerted the local ward office and shared a photo of the hazard. However, the officials were unresponsive and directed her to contact a specific officer. When she reached out, the officer refused to address the issue, claiming that the area was outside his jurisdiction.
Determined to get the problem resolved, Shankar sent a WhatsApp message to NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde that same evening. “The commissioner immediately shared the issue with his officials and directed them to take action,” she said. Within two hours, the same officer who had initially cited jurisdiction issues called her back, informing her that barricades were being put up as a safety measure.
By the following afternoon, the nullah was fully covered, and the official updated her once the work was completed.
Shankar emphasised the danger posed by the open nullah, stating that anyone could have fallen in, leading to a potentially fatal accident. “The municipal commissioner took the issue seriously and resolved it promptly. Unfortunately, the ward officials appeared lethargic when it came to addressing a common citizen’s complaint,” she said.