The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has approved funds for the much-awaited Borivali-Thane underground Tunnel, which will see the work on the line move forward at a rapid pace.
This underground passage has a library named after Keshav Sitaram alias Prabodhankar Thackeray, a pioneer of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. It has been there for 48 years.
However, the question is being raised as to whether this library will be demolished for this subway. Senior political analyst and social worker Vijay Vaidya established the Magathane Mitra Mandal on May 1, 1977, at Jai Maharashtra Nagar in Borivali (East), and this library was built.
This library is recognised by the Maharashtra Government. This library has got the status of Class B. This library has a collection of 30 thousand books. This library has been visited by numerous dignitaries, including Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray, Shiv Sena Party Leader Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Yuva Sena Chief and former Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray.
This library has witnessed the rise of numerous writers, including the renowned writer Shivajirao Bhosale. The first Mumbai Suburban Marathi Literary Conference was held under the auspices of this library.
While it has been announced to set up a book village in Jammu and Kashmir, it is being said that this library will be demolished for the Borivali-Thane underground tunnel.
Cultural Affairs Minister and Adv. Ashish Shelar, who has been working hard to bring historical relics to Maharashtra, is the Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District.
Citizens are keen to see whether the government will provide alternative space for the Late Prabodhankar Thackeray Library, Matoshree Ramabai Keshav Thackeray Kindergarten and Swatantryaveer Savarkar Gymnasium in the same Jai Maharashtra Nagar area.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has served a notice to the Magathane Mitra Mandal to demolish the 48-year-old library and move it directly to Charkop, Kandivali.
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Doubts are being expressed as to whether 30 thousand books will be left unattended. How will thousands of readers go to Charkop Kandivali for these books and to read them? Also, questions are being raised as to how these thousands of readers will get to read the books.