logo
After public opposition, BMC scraps elevated car parking proposal at Matunga Station

After public opposition, BMC scraps elevated car parking proposal at Matunga Station

Hindustan Times22-05-2025

MUMBAI: The BMC has officially scrapped a controversial proposal to construct an Elevated Multilevel Electro Car Parking facility outside Matunga railway station. The decision, taken on May 5, came after sustained public opposition and a thorough evaluation of logistical and traffic concerns.
A critical meeting to deliberate on the project was held on January 9, 2025, chaired by additional municipal commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi. Attendees included key officials from the municipal corporation, such as the deputy municipal commissioners for Zone II and Infrastructure, the chief engineer of the Development Plan and representatives from the traffic department and F North ward. The minutes of the meeting were later disclosed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2025.
The project had reached an advanced stage, with the traffic department having floated a tender and appointed a contractor. The department also secured a No Objection Certificate from the railway authorities, as the proposed site falls within a railway buffer zone.
Despite these approvals, several technical and civic issues were flagged during the meeting. The chief engineer (Development Plan) clarified that the land in question was not originally reserved for public parking under the 1991 Strategic Regional Development Plan though it had been used informally for parking and housed a police chowky. Under the Development Plan 2034, the land is now designated for both parking and police use.
A major concern was the potential traffic disruption. Lakhamshi Napoo Road, the proposed site for the facility, is a vital access route to Matunga Central railway station. Officials feared that the construction and operation of a multilevel parking structure could severely obstruct the movement of railway commuters, especially during peak hours, causing congestion and chaos at the station's entry and exit points.
Public opposition played a decisive role in the project's cancellation. G R Vora from the Petition Group Foundation lodged a formal complaint on November 20, 2024, addressed to multiple authorities, voicing strong objections to the proposed facility. Subsequently, on November 29, the deputy municipal commissioner (Zone II) along with ward and traffic staff conducted a site inspection.
Taking into account all technical evaluations, public feedback and potential disruptions, the committee reached a unanimous decision to terminate the project. With the cancellation, the BMC has indicated a willingness to prioritise community feedback and urban functionality over automated infrastructure development, at least in sensitive and high-traffic zones like railway station precincts.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gurdwara on encroached land razed after HC order
Gurdwara on encroached land razed after HC order

Time of India

time44 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Gurdwara on encroached land razed after HC order

Mumbai: In what is seen as a win for residents, an illegal religious structure (gurdwara) at the Joggers Park on Lokhandwala Back Road, Andheri (West) was demolished in the wee hours of Monday by those who had unauthorisedly built the structure in 2022. The action came following a legal battle waged by residents. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Joggers Park is used by residents regularly for jogging and walking. However, according to the BMC, taking undue advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic, some people initially started serving food packets outside the park and subsequently began operating a langar inside the park. Thereafter, they built an unauthorised religious structure within the Joggers Park, it said. According to an affidavit submitted earlier this year by the civic body, it found certain unauthorised constructions, and a show cause notice was issued. Subsequently, a speaking order was passed by BMC on May 29, 2024. Thereafter, the BMC demolished the structures but had left one structure, which was converted into a religious place, untouched. On May 2 this year, the Bombay High Court ordered the respondents to remove the structure. The repondents included Celebrations Sports Club/Samarth Nagar Lokhandwala Complex Co-Operative Housing Societies Association Limited, Punjabi Association of Lokhandwala and Sanjha Chula Guru Ka Langar Trust. Lokhandwala Joggers Park Association secretary, Anuj Mittal, said, "It is a victory not just for legality, but for the citizens' right to reclaim public space. The issue was never religious, but against unauthorised occupation of a public park. The structure was demolished by the encroachers themselves late Sunday night. We residents waged a sustained legal battle right from December 2023, by filing a PIL in the Bombay High Court. " Mittal said , "The Supreme Court too dismissed the appeal of the encroachers'" Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit and activist, said, "The outcome is an untiring effort of citizens of Oshiwara and Lokhandwala. Land grabbing in the name of God should not be allowed, besides gardens are meant for recreation and not for religious purposes. More importantly, this is an open space. "

RBI to SC: Have issued norms to monitor use of loan money by realtors
RBI to SC: Have issued norms to monitor use of loan money by realtors

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

RBI to SC: Have issued norms to monitor use of loan money by realtors

NEW DELHI: As many banks and financial institutions have come under scanner for harassing homebuyers in connivance with real estate companies particularly in case of subvention plan and facing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe on direction of the Supreme Court, banking regulator RBI has virtually shrugged off its responsibility and told SC that it has over the years issued various guidelines and circulars to monitor use of loan amount by developers to prevent misuse and siphoning of funds. It also said that it had directed banks not to resort to intimidation or harassment of any kind for recovery of loan amounts from buyers. Under the subvention scheme, banks disburse the sanctioned amount directly to the the builders, who then have to pay EMIs on the sanctioned loan amount, until possession of the flats is handed over to homebuyers. As many builders did not complete construction and started defaulting in paying the EMIs to the banks as per the Tripartite Agreement, the banks started action against the buyers to recover the EMIs and it is the SC which came to their rescue by ordering a probe into the alleged 'unholy' nexus of builders and banks. In an affidavit filed in the apex court, RBI referred to various directions and guidelines issued by it from time to time and said, "RBI has performed its duty in discharge of its statutory obligations under the various statutes, including those under the BR (Banking Regulation) Act." The regulator said it had way back in 2015 taken cognisance of the practices such as Subvention Schemes and had issued guidelines as per which disbursal of housing loans sanctioned to individuals should be closely linked to the stages of construction of the housing project and upfront disbursal should not be made in cases of incomplete or under-construction housing projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo In a relief to many homebuyers who booked flats under subvention plan and have not got possession of their flats because of inordinate delay by developers, SC had in July last year directed that no coercive action could be taken against them by banks or builders regarding payment of EMI and no complaint shall be entertained against them for cheque bounce cases. Seeking intervention, hundreds of homebuyers had moved the SC against banks and builders.

2 days after rape and murder of minor girl, accused still at large
2 days after rape and murder of minor girl, accused still at large

The Hindu

time3 hours ago

  • The Hindu

2 days after rape and murder of minor girl, accused still at large

Two days after the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in north-east Delhi's Nehru Vihar, the search for the accused, who allegedly sexually assaulted the girl and killed her before stuffing her body in a suitcase, continues to remain under way. 'The hunt for the accused is on. Multiple teams of the Special Cell, Crime Branch, and district police unit are conducting raids to nab him,' said a senior police officer. The accused, who ran a food stall in the area, is suspected to have fled the scene immediately after committing the crime. During the preliminary investigation, the police found that the accused had been residing in that area for the past nearly nine months. 'Argument with wife' 'A few days back, during an argument with his wife he threw stones at her, after which she did not come back to him,' said Shakeela, a neighbour. On Sunday, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault. The incident has sparked widespread protests by residents, who have demanded strict punishment for the accused. Oppn. criticises BJP Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress criticised the BJP governments in Delhi and the Centre over the 'collapse of law and order'. Delhi Police reports to the Union Home Ministry. Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly and AAP leader Atishi wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora demanding swift action. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht met the victim's family members. He later told mediapersons that 'such criminals should be dealt with thorough encounters'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store