The Times of India          02.12.2013

Eateries gutted in Andheri building may face civic heat

MUMBAI: Renovation work in most offices and construction of an additional restaurant on terrace had made it difficult for firefighters to control blaze that had broken out in six-storey Royal Plaza building in Andheri on Saturday morning.

Now, Red Ant Cafe, China Gate and Caravan Serai, which are housed on ground, first and part of second floor of commercial building on New Link Road, may face heat from fire brigade and municipal corporation as officials verifying whether or not they are authorized.

"If found unauthorized, we will not allow these restaurants to operate from building. They will have to get a fresh no-objection certificate from fire brigade, and medical officer, along with building and factories department of BMC, will initiate further action. We will get report in two to three days," said Sunil Nesarikar, acting chief fire officer. that gutted many well known eateries in blaze

On Saturday, it had taken firefighters nearly three hours to douse blaze that had broken out in an AC-split unit in ground floor kitchen of China Gate restaurant around 4am. The scaffolding erected for painting building and plastic signboards had further fuelled fire, said officials from fire department .

"It has been proved that fire spread rapidly due to scaffolding and plastic signboards. Renovation work was on in all offices on southeast corner, right from ground floor to fifth floor of building, including terrace. Also, it has been found that there was an additional restaurant coming up on terrace," said Nesarikar.

The fire brigade will ascertain whether all three restaurants and new eatery coming up on terrace are authorized, with requisite BMC permissions and fire brigade NOC.

The fire department will also check if wet riser system, fire-hose boxes, underground and overhead water storage tanks, sprinkler system, fire detection system, fire alarm system and extinguishers were in place. While there were no casualties, one fireman was injured and one person was rescued.

The fire safety norms for commercial buildings mandate installation of fire-fighting system and chief fire officer's NOC is issued as per Development Control Regulations, taking into consideration Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Rules, 2009.

Deccan Herald             02.12.2013

BBMP commissioner promises facelift to KR Market

BBMP commissioner M Lakshminarayana took part in the ‘intensive cleaning programme’ at KR Market on Sunday and assured traders of improving the area.

The commissioner inspected the parking lot at the basement of the market complex and instructed the officials to take steps for its improvement, in addition to effective garbage management. He gave these instructions following a request by software engineers who took part in the programme.

Lakshminarayana said that developmental activities would be implemented, using Palike funds, to give a facelift to the market in the coming days.

He told Deccan Herald: “One of the biggest problems at the market is encroachment by hawkers. But they cannot be displaced, as per the directions of the Supreme Court. We have decided to lay a concrete road of 300 to 400 metres.

It will be adjacent to KR Market, where the hawkers can move in. This step will reduce the chaos and ensure free movement of vehicles and people. The basement parking area will also be improved.”

Traders, meanwhile, expressed regret that the parking lot is unfit for use as it stinks and is filthy.

“This problem has been persisting for more than two decades now. Not many people park their vehicles here. Moreover, the parking fee is Rs 20 per hour which is too much,” said G M Diwakar, president, KR Market Flower Merchants' Association.        

Mayor B S Satyanarayana also had debris cleared from the footpaths and the lane on the neighbouring Sethuram Road.