Bandra parking plaza plan splits citizens

MUMBAI: Citizens continue to remain divided over the underground parking and shopping plaza proposed at Bandra’s Patwardhan Park.



Tuesday witnessed two citizens from Khar and Santacruz areas, who are against the plaza, land up at the BMC headquarters for the pre-bid meeting at the city engineer’s office.

Khar-based activist Zoru Bathena said, “We are upset the BMC is looking at destroying a natural garden under the garb of providing parking space and a shopping area on Linking Road. Congestion in the area is actually caused due to failure of authorities to tackle illegal conversion of parking spaces in the locality into stalls.”

Bathena was accompanied by Aditi Kane who said they want the garden to remain a natural green space.

BMC officials at the meeting said citizens’ concerns were being considered and they would discuss the same with the higher management. Officials added three bidders have showcased their interest in the project

Meanwhile, many other residents from the area feel the parking plaza is a much needed facility.

“There is St. Theresa’s Church in the area and on Sundays or any festive day it gets extremely difficult to find parking space. Construction of the plaza should come as a relief,” said Allwyn Saldanha, a local.

Local MLA Ashish Shelar said the green area will in fact be increased. “We are not looking at reducing the green space at all, but rather at decongesting the area. There is a plot behind Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir which will also be brought into the existing green area and this will enhance the green cover,” he said.

Activist Anandini Thakoor said they were in support of the parking facility. “We have been trying to get rid of the illegal hawkers for a long time. We are hoping this project will resolve the issue.”

However, Santa Cruz resident, Deyasini Choudhary, said ripping apart the park was not a solution to the traffic congestion in the area. “The worry is putting the hawkers below the ground level can lead to water logging issues for the area during monsoon,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Development Control Plan for 2014-2034 has proposed sewage treatment plants, electric substations, underground parking and shopping hubs below open public spaces and land reserved for playgrounds, parks and gardens in future.

The BMC had floated tenders for the first phase of work at Patwardhan Park to be undertaken earlier this month.

The estimated tender cost is around Rs 88 crore. If the project comes through, underground parking facilities at Patwardhan Park in Khar Linking Road will be the first in the city. A meeting to discuss the merits/demerits of the underground plaza will be held at 5.30pm on November 16 at SAISA (St. Anthony’s Sports Academy).