Dharavi LPG blasts: BMC to work out parking protocol

Mumbai: Amid allegations that vehicles filled with inflammable gas were double-parked on the Dharavi road where a series of explosions lit up the night sky on Monday, civic authorities have decided to hold a meeting of all stakeholders—the gas companies, the rationing officer, police and traffic police—to streamline parking for trucks carrying LPG cylinders.
"We will also work on formulating some kind of protocol to fix responsibility for safety measures during parking, on gas companies or suppliers or transporters," said an official.
The official said since roads inside Dharavi are congested, gas agencies and trucks carrying LPG cylinders use the wide Dharavi Loop Road to unload cylinders on to smaller vehicles for further distribution. "We are looking at on-street parking or some other arrangement that is regulated. Most of the cylinders being unloaded are meant for distribution in Dharavi."
G-North ward officer Ajitkumar Ambi confirmed that a meeting will be held. "The gas agency or companies can depute some persons, maybe along with some equipment, for safety and security when the trucks are parked. The meeting will work out these modalities," said another official.
Sajid Khan, a resident, said vehicles are parked in double and triple lanes on the road, when it is not even a parking zone. "We don't want parking to be allowed on this road. If at all it is allowed, it should be a single-lane configuration and it should be regulated." Saiful Islam, another local, said residents of other areas also park their vehicles on the road.