Alumni, senior citizens upset about plan for construction on BMCC grounds in Pune

Time of India

22-05-2025

Pune: The engineering department building to be constructed on the Deccan Education Society (DES)-governed Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) grounds, as decided by DES Pune University, has sparked a debate whether such activities should be opposed because of the threat it poses to people's amenities and freedom to health or allowed because it is happening on private land.
The private grounds has served as a morning and evening walker's paradise for the last 80 years and is one of the few open spaces left in the Deccan area.
DES officials claimed that only a small portion of the grounds will be utilised, while Youth Congress activists alleged that 100 trees would be cut in the process as against the 26 being declared. DES said the trees will be replanted or planted anew as per permission from Pune Municipal Corporation's garden department.
While most alumni, residents and evening walkers want the grounds to stay the same, there were voices that said the management could do as it pleased since the said property is owned privately.
Many senior citizens who live in the vicinity said their children had studied in BMCC and used to play on the grounds. "It is a landmark. Sadly, constructions are coming up everywhere and blocking facades of such beautiful heritage buildings," a couple said.
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A former corporator said he used to play on the grounds during his college days and the spot must be preserved for the future generation. "There are not many playgrounds left in the area. I feel sad that construction will eat up a portion of the grounds. People, especially senior citizens, go there for walks. Coaching for various sports also takes place in the space. They should keep it intact and make the building in another area under the management.
"
On Friday, during the groundbreaking ceremony, Youth Congress members went to the BMCC gate and spoke with the management. They demanded that no construction happen on the grounds.
Akshay Jain, president of the media department, Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, said, "The society has other land where they can construct a building for their engineering department. All we are requesting is it be built elsewhere.
Our protest was symbolic. However, if DES does not relent, we will do a full-fledged agitation," he said.
Yuwraj Shah, a 1978 batch pass-out, was the secretary of the BMCC Alumni Association for 25 years. He said the alumni is sad about the development. "The building is beautiful and the uninterrupted view from the large grounds adds to its attraction. Construction would lead to cutting of old trees. We wish the management would take a decision that would save the grounds and not hurt the environment or beauty of the structure.
The space is an integral part of all who have passed out of BMCC, as well as others who use it. It must be protected since open spaces are a rarity. We need to protect playgrounds more than institutes," said Shah.
Meanwhile, DES authorities assured that only a small per cent of the ground will be used for construction.
"The floorplate area for the construction of the engineering department building will be completed at 18,000sqm and only about 9,000sqm will be on the grounds.
As per sanctioned drawings, 15,666sqm of the grounds will remain. The space is more than enough to play hockey, football or cricket. We have already said trees will either be relocated or planted anew. The exact date for construction is not decided, but the building will be ready within 18 months from the date of commencement," said DES officials.
Pune: The engineering department building to be constructed on the Deccan Education Society (DES)-governed Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) grounds, as decided by DES Pune University, has sparked a debate whether such activities should be opposed because of the threat it poses to people's amenities and freedom to health or allowed because it is happening on private land.
The private grounds has served as a morning and evening walker's paradise for the last 80 years and is one of the few open spaces left in the Deccan area.
DES officials claimed that only a small portion of the grounds will be utilised, while Youth Congress activists alleged that 100 trees would be cut in the process as against the 26 being declared. DES said the trees will be replanted or planted anew as per permission from Pune Municipal Corporation's garden department.
While most alumni, residents and evening walkers want the grounds to stay the same, there were voices that said the management could do as it pleased since the said property is owned privately.
Many senior citizens who live in the vicinity said their children had studied in BMCC and used to play on the grounds. "It is a landmark. Sadly, constructions are coming up everywhere and blocking facades of such beautiful heritage buildings," a couple said.
A former corporator said he used to play on the grounds during his college days and the spot must be preserved for the future generation. "There are not many playgrounds left in the area. I feel sad that construction will eat up a portion of the grounds. People, especially senior citizens, go there for walks. Coaching for various sports also takes place in the space. They should keep it intact and make the building in another area under the management.
"
On Friday, during the groundbreaking ceremony, Youth Congress members went to the BMCC gate and spoke with the management. They demanded that no construction happen on the grounds.
Akshay Jain, president of the media department, Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, said, "The society has other land where they can construct a building for their engineering department. All we are requesting is it be built elsewhere.
Our protest was symbolic. However, if DES does not relent, we will do a full-fledged agitation," he said.
Yuwraj Shah, a 1978 batch pass-out, was the secretary of the BMCC Alumni Association for 25 years. He said the alumni is sad about the development. "The building is beautiful and the uninterrupted view from the large grounds adds to its attraction. Construction would lead to cutting of old trees. We wish the management would take a decision that would save the grounds and not hurt the environment or beauty of the structure.
The space is an integral part of all who have passed out of BMCC, as well as others who use it. It must be protected since open spaces are a rarity. We need to protect playgrounds more than institutes," said Shah.
Meanwhile, DES authorities assured that only a small per cent of the ground will be used for construction.
"The floorplate area for the construction of the engineering department building will be completed at 18,000sqm and only about 9,000sqm will be on the grounds. As per sanctioned drawings, 15,666sqm of the grounds will remain. The space is more than enough to play hockey, football or cricket. We have already said trees will either be relocated or planted anew. The exact date for construction is not decided, but the building will be ready within 18 months from the date of commencement," said DES officials.