The historic Yashwant Mandai, which dates back 57 years, is located at Raviwar Karanja, the main market of Nashik. Due to its dilapidated condition and the danger it posed, the demolition work of the mandai has begun. This work is expected to last for about a month.
Yashwant Mandai added architectural significance to Raviwar Karanja in 1968. Considering its deteriorated condition, the structure became dangerous for those in and around the area. Therefore, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) administration immediately started the process of demolishing Yashwant Mandai. The demand for constructing a multi-storey building and parking facility at the site was made by Surekhatai Bhosale Pratishthan President and Shiv Sena official Sachin Bhosale.
Some traders had approached the Bombay High Court to protest the Municipal Corporation’s decision to demolish Yashwant Mandai, but they did not get any relief. After auditing both buildings, the NMC concluded that the structure was dangerous and needed to be demolished.
The work will be done manually by labourers, and no machinery will be used. It is expected to take about a month to complete. Yashwant Mandai, as a central point of the market, will be redeveloped into a multi-storey parking facility or business complex. As Raviwar Karanja is located in the central and northern part of the city and is always crowded, once the building is vacated, necessary precautions will be taken to ensure no harm comes to the surrounding shops, streets, and roads.
Sachin Bhosale, Shiv Sena official, said, “There is no arrangement for parking at Raviwar Karanja; people have to struggle to park their vehicles. Also, since the building is dangerous from a safety point of view, there is a risk of it collapsing. A multi-storey parking facility should be built, which will benefit the safety of both businessmen and citizens.”
