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Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
After public opposition, BMC scraps elevated car parking proposal at Matunga Station
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.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Asst engineer suspended for parking contract violations
MUMBAI: An assistant engineer from A Ward in South Mumbai has been suspended following serious allegations of misconduct and irregularities in managing municipal pay-and-park contracts. The order, issued by additional municipal commissioner (city) Dr Ashwini Joshi, has suspended Pawan Kawre, pending a preliminary inquiry into multiple irregularities in handling contracts for parking lots at prominent city locations. The irregularities surfaced after a sting operation at Kala Ghoda recently, where senior officials with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), who went incognito, attempted to park their cars at the pay-and-park facility outside the Jehangir Art Gallery. The suspension order was issued on April 17, even before a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the contractor in Kala Ghoda and other locations, for overcharging motorists at pay-and-park lots, which was reported on May 15. Kawre is accused of serious lapses during his tenure as assistant engineer, particularly in overseeing paid parking projects at the following sites: Trident Hotel, Marine Drive, where the contract for managing the parking lot was awarded to Lakshmi Mahila Sahitya Group. Although the contract expired on August 31, 2024, the contractor continued to operate it until February 28, 2025, without any official extension or approval. Additionally, Kawre allegedly misled the administration by misidentifying the road as 'Sir Dorabji Tata Road' and failed to report double parking violations from NCPA to the Air India building. The contract, managed by Pallavi Berozgar Samiti, too expired on November 13, 2024. However, they continued operations till February 24, 2025, without any extension. The subsequent contract was awarded to an agency under an e-tender, dated October 3, 2023, without verifying mandatory conditions such as registration with the Charity Commissioner and inclusion in the employment exchange. 'Despite double parking being observed, no action was taken by Kawre. A women's self-help group was granted a contract extension only until January 4, 2024, but continued operations until May 1, 2024, without formal approval. A proposal was later submitted in favour of Shraddha Mahila Safai Group with misleading information about the contract duration, indicating manipulated documentation,'the suspension order stated. Kawre is accused of violating Rule 3(1) clauses (1) and (2), and Rule 3(2) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Service (Conduct) Rules, 1999. The charges include dereliction of duty, misleading senior officers and the administration, acting in a manner unbecoming of a municipal employee, gross misconduct and negligence. He refused to comment on his suspension. Makarand Narwekar, former BJP corporator from Colaba, said the civic body should cancel illegal pay-and-park contracts and make the facilities free for Mumbaikars till tenders are awarded. 'Despite the suspension, pay-and-park operations in the area continue without interruption. This raises a fundamental question, if the extensions were wrong and officials were suspended for the same, then why have the parking operations not been halted? Who is accountable for allowing these operations to continue under illegal extensions?' asked Narwekar. 'The continuation of these parking services, despite the BMC's own position that the extensions were wrong and invalid, strongly suggests a nexus between certain BMC officials and contractors,' he alleged. Activist Santosh Daundkar, the whistleblower in this case, said, 'The current BMC's estate plot parking policy is commendable for its inclusivity, especially for women, and should be implemented more effectively rather than discontinued. However, misuse by mafias—allegedly protected by local authorities, undermines the system, even as the BMC earns revenue. A road engineer should manage parking, but the assigned official is handling unrelated tasks. 'Parking facilities are insufficient, notably in A Ward and near Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market, except for G South ward. To improve the system, the following steps are recommended: enforce in-time/out-time-based parking charges; install clear parking signboards; conduct surprise police inspections. This will enhance transparency, ensure fair use, and improve public satisfaction,' he said.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
After 15 years, BMC to replace fleet of garbage compactors
After nearly 15 years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to replace its existing fleet of garbage compactor trucks. These trucks are responsible for daily collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) from residential societies, commercial establishments, and informal housing settlements spread across 25 municipal wards. The existing fleet comprises 1,300 trucks, divided into three categories: large compactors, mini compactors, and side-loading mini compactors. The new fleet will feature lesser trucks, as the new vehicles will have a capacity to carry heavier, bigger payloads. According to civic officials the new fleet will comprise 800 vehicles including EVs. Mumbai on a daily basis produces 6,500 metric tonnes (MT) of MSW. These trucks collect the waste, following which they are transported to the waste processing center at Kanjurmarg and Deonar dumpyard. According to civic authorities, the brand-new large compactors will have a maximum carrying capacity of 18,500 kg, while its predecessor had a maximum capacity of 16,200 kg. Medium compactors will have a maximum capacity of 12,000 kg instead of their earlier 9,000 kg, while small compactors will have a maximum capacity of 2,590 kg compared to its previous 1,850 kg capacity. The new compactors will be colour coded, with large compactors being yellow in colour, while the medium compactors will be white. The small compactors will be cyan and black. At present, all compactors are green. The mini compactors will also run on EV instead of diesel. The BMC is set to float a Rs 4,000 crore tender to acquire these vehicles and deploy them on the streets. Civic officials said that the BMC will opt for a service-based contract with a maximum number of wards instead of a hiring model, which will be cost-effective by 25%. In a hiring model, the contractual agency would only supply the vehicles, while the responsibility of manpower would be with the BMC. 'The new contract will be service-based, under which a single agency will be responsible for the collection and transportation of waste as well as of the manpower loading the waste and maintaining the vehicles. The new vehicles will be state-of-the-art modern-day vehicles, and the appointed agency will also be responsible for maintenance of the vehicles,' Ashwini Joshi, additional municipal commissioner, told reporters on Tuesday. Joshi also maintained that of the total number of vehicles deployed, around 15% will be electric vehicles (EV). Furthermore, Joshi also stated that the labourers that are responsible for segregating and loading waste into the compactors will be supplied by the contractual agency. While the BMC-appointed labourers will be responsible for cleaning and sweeping the streets and roads. 'As a measure against dust mitigation, the BMC is carrying out sweeping and cleaning of roads at least twice every day. Since this is a mammoth task, it has been decided to use the existing manpower in Mumbai, and the laborers responsible for loading waste into compactors to depute for sweeping roads now. As a result, there will be no loss of work for the BMC-appointed labourers,' Joshi said. She also added that the civic officials have spoken with the municipal labor union before finalising the project.
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Metro contractors threaten BMC with contempt of court in property tax dispute
MUMBAI: Two Metro Rail contractors have sent a legal notice to the BMC and the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), demanding that their withheld payments over alleged non-payment of property tax dues be released, failing which they will file for contempt of court. The contractors' contention is that no property tax is applicable, as Section 184 of the Railways Act, 1989 exempts the casting yard used for working on Metro Rail projects from property taxes. Their legal notice adds that the action of the BMC and MMRCL is in violation of a Bombay high court order that granted ad interim reliefs to them against the coercive recovery of property taxes. Of the two contractors, HCC MMS (JV) was slapped with a property tax bill of ₹53.17crore while Dogus Soma (JV) received a bill of ₹97.17 crore for utilising a plot that belonged to the BMC. The plot, situated at the Wadala Truck Terminal, is being used by the contractors as a casting yard for the Metro Line 3 project (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ). The contractors have also stated in their notice dated April 21 that they will halt the Metro construction work if the payments are not released soon by MMRCL. HT was the first to report, on March 18, that the contractors had been issued a notice by MMRCL to clear the property tax due to the BMC, failing which their payments would be withheld by MMRCL. Last year, after additional municipal commissioner (city) Ashwini Joshi passed speaking orders on March 27, 2024 that the contractors were liable to pay the property tax, the contractors moved the HC against the BMC's notice and secured a stay in April. The stay was extended from time to time. The matter came up for hearing on October 25, 2024, and the court directed that the ad interim relief would continue till the next hearing, which is yet to take place. On January 31, 2025, the BMC sent a notice to MMRCL, asking it to recover the dues from the contractors. MMRCL, in turn, sent a notice to the contractors on March 13 that it would withhold payments if property tax dues were not paid. The notice stated that the action was being taken to safeguard the interests of MMRCL and to ensure compliance with all legal and financial obligations. Aggrieved by MMRCL's notice, the two contractors have now issued notices to the BMC, requesting the release of their payments, failing which action will be initiated for contempt of court. Advocate Prerak Choudhary who issued the contempt notice on behalf of the two contractors, told HT, 'The actions of the BMC and MMRCL are not only a violation of law, being contrary to Section 184 of the Railways Act, but also a blatant violation of the ad interim orders of the high court. Such action is nothing short of contempt of court, and if payments are not released, the contractors will take such further legal action as may be required, including filing a contempt petition before the HC.' Ashwini Joshi, when contacted, said she had not yet received a copy of the contempt notice. 'It is MMRCL that has stopped their payment,' she said. 'So why are they issuing a contempt notice to the BMC? Their agreement with MMRCL states that the burden of property tax lies with them. The BMC is just doing its duty by issuing property tax bills.' MMRCL didnot respond to request for comment.
