The citizens’ protest against the construction of a Parking Tower outside Matunga Central Railway Station is gaining more strength. The locals have now started an online signature campaign, ‘Save Heritage Matunga,’ which has received around 100 endorsements in two days. The online campaign has been started by local activist Chetan Trivedi, who had also written to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani demanding that the BMC should publicise the feasibility report of the Matunga Parking Tower and hold a public session to resolve citizens’ queries.
“We had given the BMC an ultimatum of seven days to publicise the feasibility report and answer citizens’ doubts on the construction of the multi-level mechanised parking tower which ended on Saturday. On Monday, we will follow up with the BMC,” Trivedi said.
The open parking space outside Matunga Central Railway station where the 22-storeyed parking tower is proposed to be constructed. | Devashri Bhujbal
The Free Press Journal had reported in its December 2 edition that the Matunga residents vowed to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Bombay High Court if the civic body doesn’t pay heed to their demands. The Petitions Group which has been raising strong objections against the construction of the Parking Tower had also asked for a joint inspection by the BMC and Central Railway, which recently gave its NOC for the project.
To ease the parking crisis in Mumbai, the BMC has undertaken a project to construct four Multi-level Robotic Parking Towers (MRPT) in Mumbai at the cost of Rs 504 crore. Of the four, one 18-storeyed tower is planned at 1,518 sq mts outside Matunga Central Railway station. The Matunga residents are against the construction of the parking tower right outside the railway station, calling it a safety hazard and a project to help a builder who is constructing a commercial complex nearby.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) officials inspected the Matunga MRPT site on Thursday. “BEST officials said that the substation near the ticket counter is dilapidated. Didn’t they realise after the application to remove the substation was made by Relcon (the contractor for Matunga MRPT)? And if it was dilapidated, why was no cognisance taken so far? They have kept the residents and railway commuters at risk for the past year,” Trivedi said.
The Free Press Journal called the BEST consultant who inspected the Matunga MRPT site. He said, “The wall of the BEST substation is in a dilapidated condition. The substation was to be redesigned under MRPT, however as the project is not finalised, the repairs of the substation will be undertaken under ‘urgent repairs’.
