Bandra locals oppose BMC’S underground parking, fear green cover loss, traffic woes
MUMBAI: Bandra residents have opposed to the Brihnanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan to build an underground public parking lot at Patwardhan Park, claiming the project would lead to the loss of green cover. Residents have also alleged the parking lot will neither solve the issue of congestion at Linking Road nor that of illegal hawkers. They say that the traffic woes in the area will worsen because of the project.
On Friday, BMC officials, project consultant Hafeez Contractor’s representatives and local MLA Ashish Shelar met the residents to hear their objections.
Aditi Kane, 36, one of the residents who attended the meeting, said, “The authorities will cut down the trees for the project. Another worry is many senior citizens come to the park for walks. Children come here to study. The increased commotion due to the park will affect all these people who want a peaceful environment.”
Shelar said that he has asked the BMC officials to look into the technical issues raised by the citizens. “I will have a meeting with the officials concerned regarding the issue of trees. I have written to the BMC commissioner asking him to use the latest technology to
transplant the trees,” Shelar said.
However, environmentalist Zoru Bhatena claimed the residents were not convinced with the authorities’ answers given during the meeting. “Instead of making motorists use the already vacant parking lots in Bandra and Santacruz, the BMC is building one more. It also says hawkers will be relocated to the shopping plaza, which will come up at the parking lot. Even then, it will not solve the hawkers’ issue,” he said.
Bhatena added a seven-metre elevated platform that will provide ventilation and provide an entrance point for vehicles is also part of the project.
“This elevated structure will spoil the view of the park. There is no rainwater harvesting system for this elevated portion either.”
Vrushali Shelar, an architect with Hafeez Contractor, said they will look into the objections.
“We have asked residents to send their objections to the ward office and we will act upon them accordingly. Most of their queries were incorporated during the design making. We are yet to finalise Phase Two. Right now, we have only drawn up the plan for Phase Two.”
Additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal said they will coordinate with the traffic police to ensure that motorists park their vehicles in parking lots.
“Many parking lots in private malls are being shut down. Despite the availability of parking lots, motorists continue to park vehicles along roads. So we need to coordinate with the traffic police for strict implementation of parking laws. We conducted the comprehensive mobility plan before inviting the tenders to help us study the feasibility of opening up private parking spaces,” he said.
Meanwhile, a similar situation is taking place at Jhula Maidan at Mumbai Central, where another proposed underground parking area is facing opposition.