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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

BMC plans parking curbs in narrow lanes

Mumbai: Amid mounting concerns over delayed emergency response in congested neighbourhoods, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to enforce parking restrictions in several narrow lanes across the city, where indiscriminate on-street parking has increasingly emerged as a critical civic hazard. The move, expected to be implemented soon, is aimed at ensuring unobstructed access for fire engines and ambulances in densely populated pockets where even minor delays can have...

BMC plans parking curbs in narrow lanes

Mumbai: Amid mounting concerns over delayed emergency response in congested neighbourhoods, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to enforce parking restrictions in several narrow lanes across the city, where indiscriminate on-street parking has increasingly emerged as a critical civic hazard. The move, expected to be implemented soon, is aimed at ensuring unobstructed access for fire engines and ambulances in densely populated pockets where even minor delays can have life-threatening consequences. “Illegal parking is not merely a compliance issue; it reflects the structural gap between the rapid growth in vehicle ownership and the limited parking infrastructure available in our cities,” said Prashant Sharma, President of NAREDCO Maharashtra. “As urban centres continue to densify, there is a pressing need to integrate well-planned and technologically enabled parking solutions within city planning as well as new real estate developments. Adequate parking infrastructure will play a crucial role in ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving overall urban mobility,” he added. Highlighting the urgency for scalable interventions, Ashish Majithia, Founder and CEO of Nextkraft Parking Technologies, said, “Mumbai’s parking crisis, especially in older and congested localities, underscores the need for innovative approaches such as automated and multi-level parking systems. Automated or mechanised parking should be installed at every public parking spot, which can significantly increase capacity, reduce dependence on on-street parking and ensure that critical access routes remain unobstructed. Alongside regulatory measures, adopting vertical parking infrastructure will be the key to building safer and more efficient cities.” The civic concern is particularly acute in older parts of South and Central Mumbai, including Chandanwadi, Girgaon, Kalbadevi, Gaondevi, Tardeo, Mumbai Central, Nagpada, Agripada and Byculla, where over 240 narrow lanes have been identified. Civic assessments indicate that nearly 35 to 40 of these are so constricted that only a single vehicle can pass at a time, making them highly vulnerable during emergencies when every second is critical. Commercial Zones The situation is further exacerbated in high-density commercial zones such as Zaveri Bazaar and Kalbadevi, where wholesale trade activity leads to persistent vehicular congestion. Authorities warn that in the event of fires or medical emergencies, blocked access routes could result in severe loss of life and property, underlining the gravity of the issue as more than just a traffic inconvenience. According to civic officials, proposed measures include introducing odd-even parking systems in select lanes and declaring complete no-parking zones in others, coupled with stricter enforcement against violators. However, residents and business owners have raised concerns over the absence of adequate alternative parking infrastructure, arguing that enforcement without viable substitutes could shift the burden rather than resolve the problem. As Mumbai continues to grapple with rising vehicle ownership and shrinking urban space, the proposed restrictions bring into sharp focus a deeper civic challenge, balancing immediate regulatory action with long-term infrastructure planning. Experts maintain that unless supported by systematic investments in organised, high-capacity parking solutions, the city’s emergency access bottlenecks may persist despite stricter rules.

The Hidden Cost of Greed

In the world of business, money often becomes the most visible measure of success. Profits, revenues, and reimbursements dominate conversations. Yet, there is a subtler, far more powerful currency that shapes whether people want to work with you, trust you, or follow you: your reputation.


Consider this scenario. You’re offered the liberty to claim expenses — maybe as a senior executive in an organization or as a business owner working with a client who reimburses certain costs. The process is straightforward: submit your bills and get your money back. But somewhere along the way, temptation creeps in. You claim a little extra. Maybe you round up the numbers, or maybe you include something you technically didn’t spend on.


It may feel harmless — after all, “everyone does it.” But here’s the truth: every inflated claim, every unnecessary grab, chips away at your personal brand.


Why? Because your personal brand is not built only on stage or in the boardroom. It is forged in the choices you make when no one is watching.


For leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs, this truth carries even greater weight. People aren’t just observing what you achieve — they are observing how you achieve it. The employees who look up to you, the clients who invest in you, and the partners who place their trust in you are constantly forming silent judgments.


When they sense integrity, fairness, and restraint, they are drawn to you. They feel safe aligning with you. But when they see greed, shortcuts, or a sense of entitlement, it creates a ripple effect of doubt. They may not call it out immediately, but the story of who you are begins to shift. And that shift can cost you far more than a few extra reimbursements. It can cost you loyalty, respect, and influence.


This is the invisible economy of personal branding. The numbers you claim may boost your short-term balance sheet, but the impression you leave will define your long-term legacy. And in today’s world, legacy is the true measure of leadership.


Business is built on trust. Contracts, negotiations, and deals may look like transactions, but at their heart, they are acts of faith. A client who sees you stretching claims will wonder: Will they stretch promises too? An employee who watches you claim unnecessarily will ask: If my leader takes more than needed, why should I give my best?


These unspoken questions erode credibility, and credibility once lost is almost impossible to rebuild.


That is why the most successful leaders understand that restraint is not weakness; it is strength. Saying, “No, this isn’t necessary to claim,” or “I’ll only submit what I truly spent,” may seem small, but these actions accumulate into a reputation of trustworthiness. And trust is the foundation upon which influence, opportunities, and wealth are truly built.


Personal branding, at its core, is not about image — it is about alignment. It is about ensuring that your actions, words, and values tell the same story, whether in public or in private. For business owners and founders, this alignment becomes your differentiator. Skills and products can be copied. Integrity cannot.


In a competitive market where everyone is fighting for attention, it’s easy to believe that bold strategies or aggressive moves will set you apart. But often, it is the quiet, consistent choices that build the most enduring brands. The leader who doesn’t take advantage of loopholes. The entrepreneur who honours every rupee as if it were their own. The founder who inspires others not just with vision, but with character.


When you operate this way, you don’t just make money — you make meaning. And people remember those who create meaning far longer than those who chase margins.


So the next time you’re faced with the option to claim more than you need, pause. Ask yourself: What story is this action writing about me?


Because at the end of the day, your reputation is your greatest ROI. And unlike money, once lost, it cannot be reimbursed.


And if you are a business owner or founder who wants to ensure your story reflects integrity, trust, and lasting influence, investing in building a strong personal brand may be the most valuable decision you ever make. Wish to know more? Then let’s connect



(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries.

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