‘Those in Delhi can’t decide how Mumbai should use its port land’

The land was under the jurisdiction of the trust because it was a port. However, after JNPT and an increase in traffic there, the MBPT has no business holding on to what belongs to Mumbai...we are committed to more green spaces, as we were born here, will live in the city and love it forever.

A lot of questions are being raised about the informal sector in the area and the tenants who are being evicted. Is the Sena looking at their concerns?

The Sena, especially South Mumbai MP Arvind Sawant, has taken up the issue with the Shipping Minister consistently and solved a lot of the problems. But again, the opaqueness of the decisions makes it tough for people living there for generations.

The plan talks of reclaiming

93ha near Haji Bunder to build an iconic park. The BMC is also planning a central park at Backbay. This means Mumbai will get two huge open spaces in the corners of the city, instead of walkable gardens. What is your view on this?

Not really. This is factually untrue, just desk thoughts. Each year, the BMC develops many new gardens and open spaces. From 2012 to 2017, 117 new theme gardens and more playgrounds were created in small, crammed concrete spaces. Of course, the Backbay garden, the proposed racecourse open space and the east coast, along with 96ha of open space from the coastal road reclamation, would help. We are committed to more green and open spaces in the city, rather than just commercial exploitation, as we were born here, will live in this city and love it forever.