Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officially scrapped its plan to convert a portion of the defunct cycling track opposite Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion into a pay-and-park facility, following concerns over the underground Tansa water pipeline beneath the proposed site.
Construction Would Violate Bombay HC Order
Originally approved in June by the BMC’s hydraulic engineering department, the plan faced a major hurdle when the department’s own Survey Section flagged it as a violation of a standing Bombay High Court order. The order mandates a 10-metre buffer zone on either side of land situated above the Tansa pipeline, which supplies drinking water to the city. The court directive clearly prohibits any encroachment, including the parking of vehicles, on the designated buffer area.
A BMC official explained that the underground pipeline cannot endure additional weight or pressure. “We’ve already removed previous encroachments on this stretch to prevent safety hazards. Allowing parked vehicles here would directly violate the court’s order and pose a risk to public infrastructure,” the official said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Track In Bad Condition Due To No Usage
The 39-kilometre-long cycling track from Sion to Mulund, constructed in 2020, was initially hailed as a public fitness and eco-transport initiative. However, over time, the track has fallen into disuse and disrepair. Local residents have reported that the track has become a hotspot for illegal encroachments and garbage dumping.
Earlier this year, they proposed converting part of the space into a regulated parking zone to ease traffic congestion, especially near crowd-pulling spots like Shanmukhananda Hall and Gandhi Market, which attract over 2,000 visitors daily.
Though the hydraulic engineering department had conditionally cleared the pay-and-park plan, stating that no permanent construction would be allowed, the Survey Section's intervention has led to a complete reversal. According to the report, in a letter dated July 26, the department advised against moving forward with the project, citing the 2006 Bombay High Court petition and its ongoing implications.
BMC Scraps Tender For Cycling Track Maintenance
To add to public disappointment, the BMC has also scrapped a Rs 9 crore tender meant for the cycling track’s upkeep due to a shortage of funds. Attempts to partner with private companies under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the maintenance of the track have received no takers so far, residents confirmed.
