Backlash on Marine Drive forces BMC to review toilet location

MUMBAI: The location of a toilet being set up by BMC at the end of the Marine Drive promenade towards Nariman Point may be changed. This comes following a meeting of civic officials and residents with the local MLA and speaker of the Maharashtra assembly Rahul Narwekar over the weekend.
Former civic corporator Harshita Narwekar who was present at the meeting said, "While no one is disagreeing to the fact that there is a need for a toilet, we were not in favour of the proposed location. Another location for placing the facility will shortly be decided upon. We are meeting again on Tuesday."
TOI had earlier reported that Marine Drive residents had opposed setting up of a toilet at extreme end of promenade towards Nariman Point.
Meanwhile, following a letter from the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Association to the BMC emphasising on the need to consider the heritage significance of the area during the design process, the BMC's additional municipal commissioner on May 19 instructed the civic ward to follow the prescribed procedure before proceeding. The procedure entails submitting such proposals for a review to a three-member committee comprising the municipal commissioner, police commissioner, and chairman of the Heritage Conservation Committee.
The association had in the letter drawn the attention of the municipal authority to the committee that is in place to review any application or proposal for any activity at the Marine Drive Promenade.
"The designs of the toilet blocks should not obstruct the sea view, and should maintain a low profile. Access to sea view from all points of view should be maximised such that pedestrians, motorists and residents continue to enjoy the view. Most importantly. there should be no commercial advertising on these toilets as Marine Drive promenade has been kept free of this for decades," stated the letter written by Atul Kumar, president of the association.
The move by the BMC to set up a public toilet comes following last month's visit by CM Eknath Shinde where he instructed the civic officials to construct public toilets at every 1 km in the locality.