After the local residents' voices of protest and demonstrations that have continued ever since the mall came up three months ago, the matter was raised in the BMC today by local corporator and Nationalist Congress Party leader Subhash Mayekar, who accused the Buildings Proposal Department of acting in collusion with the arcade's owners and clearing the project controversially.

Mayekar demanded a probe into the clearance and said traffic snarls caused by the mall had created tremendous chaos. ``Even the traffic police allow cars to be parked on the road. Normally a vehicle parked on the road is towed away, but when the watchmen at Crossroads inform them about a particular vehicle belonging to a customer, it is let off,'' he alleged.

TheCongress party's K A Bastiwalla said the situation continued due to the discretionary powers given to the arcade and wondered how Crossroads was allowed to take liberties with DC rules. ``A rule framed is applicable to all. There can be no discretionary powers, as in BMC, that means corruption. Rather, all officers concerned with issuing permissions should be taken to task,'' he said.

The Samajwadi Party's Yusuf Abrahani said the Haji Ali area was accident-prone and the traffic department was well aware of the problem. ``Misuse of discretionary powers could be seen blatantly even as local residents, traffic and pedestrians were put to great inconvenience,'' he said.

The BJP's Arun Deo said the situation was not just chaotic at Crossroads but also at the Shoppers Stop in Andheri. ``The situation there is not any better. In fact, it is the collusion of the civic staff that gives rise to such problems. We should visit Crossroads and prepare a report. After that relevant action should be taken,'' Deosaid.

Shiv Sena's Digambar Kandarkar, who is also House leader said, ``Look at the irony of it. While commencement certificates were given at the drop of a hat to builders, thousands of flat-owners were denied occupation certificates for no fault of theirs.'' Kandarkar said those who took morchas and dharnas to Crossroads should instead go to the Buildings Proposal Department.

Additional municipal commissioner S S Gill told the committee members that both the stores had complied with municipal rules. Allegations about violation of DC rules will be looked into, he said. ``There is a problem about parking and they are trying to adjust. Once that is done, the congestion will stop. First ascertain the facts and only then undertake a visit,'' he suggested. However, the committee members were adamant.

Committee chairman Sada Sarvankar said there would be no harm in visiting the arcade. ``A firsthand visit teaches a lot. We shall visit Crossroads on November 17, 1999 at 11 am,'' he said.