The Borivli Assembly constituency, a BJP bastion since 1980, is witnessing a heated contest in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. While BJP’s Sanjay Upadhyay aims to secure a strong mandate, his main rival, Sanjay Bhosle of Shiv Sena (UBT), has laid out a counter-plan addressing pressing local issues.
Key Issues in Borivli Constituency
- Hawker menace
- Lack of open spaces
- Rampant redevelopment
- Public transport inefficiencies
- Infrastructure challenges (roads, water, healthcare)
Sanjay Upadhyay (BJP)
Hawker menace
- Plans to work with local authorities to tackle illegal hawking.
- Claims the presence of Rohingya and illegal Bangladeshi hawkers contributes to the problem and aims to “uproot” them.
Last-mile connectivity & safety
- Proposes increasing BEST bus frequency and adding 150 train journeys from Borivli.
- Focus on affordable commuting options.
Road quality & pollution
- Plans to increase green cover through tree planting.
- Suggests prepaid parking systems to regulate parking charges.
Redevelopment, water & healthcare
- Claims BMC’s ongoing concretisation damages water pipelines, causing water loss.
- Highlights two upcoming hospitals in Borivli initiated by MP Piyush Goyal.
SRA Schemes
- Supports SRA and MHADA schemes for affordable housing for the middle-class and working-class population, including household help.
Sanjay Bhosle (Shiv Sena – UBT)
Hawker menace
- Proposes creating dedicated hawking zones and imposing strict penalties on illegal hawkers.
Last-mile connectivity & safety
- Plans to improve BEST night bus frequency.
- Intends to repair and maintain non-functional CCTVs for better safety.
Road quality & pollution
- Suggests constructing a western freeway and utilizing the Coastal Road project to reduce traffic congestion.
- Emphasizes ward-level solutions for local issues post-BMC elections.
Redevelopment, water & healthcare
- Focus on restarting local maternity hospitals to serve the community.
SRA Schemes
- Opposes the SRA scheme and its extensions, citing its ineffectiveness.
Conclusion
The contest in Borivli is a battle of ideologies and approaches. While Upadhyay emphasizes infrastructure development, institutional coordination, and affordable housing, Bhosle prioritizes dedicated solutions for hawking zones, traffic management, and localized healthcare. With the BJP’s historical dominance and the constituency’s evolving concerns, the outcome will highlight the electorate’s preference for continuity or change.
