Around this time in January last year, the Mumbai fire brigade struggled for half an hour to reach a blazing Maimoon Manzil in Bohri Colony in Marol after midnight, because the narrow road outside was a hodgepodge of parked vehicles. Four people died in the fire of suffocation and burn injuries.

Residents alleged that people stuck inside the building could have been saved if fire engines had been able to get there on time. The fire broke out around 1.30 am and the brigade was informed around 2 am. But it took them 24 minutes to reach the site from the fire station which is hardly 10 minutes away.

It was ascertained that narrow roads occupied by parked vehicles kept fire engines from reaching the scene.

Now, a year later, vehicles continue to be parked on the same road. After 9 pm, one side of the road is fully occupied by cars, residents said. "The situation in the morning is bizarre as there is a long queue of parked vehicles," said Harun Balapurwala, a resident of the locality.

"Most people leave for work in the morning and get back after 9 pm. So the stretch is clear during the day, but at night a car cannot even make a turn," said another resident.

Another such spot is the Marol-Maroshi Road, behind Seven Hills Hospital, a stone's throw from Bohri Colony. A long queue of cars and tempos stands here round the clock. "Some cars have been parked for years. The road's a dump yard of discarded vehicles," said Usman Khwaja, a resident.

Jagjit Singh, an activist in Andheri East area, was concerned that it would be difficult for fire engines to go through Military Road, which is packed with vehicles.

"There are complaints from societies, hospitals, shops and schools about poor management of traffic and parked vehicles in the area," said Singh.

BMC officials were unavailable for comment. Deputy Commissioner of Police NC Reddy (Zone X) said they carry our drives against illegal parking routinely. "We have identified some people including taxi drivers who park their vehicles and vanish," said Reddy, adding, "We will initiate action against them."

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