As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started the construction of a road over bridge (ROB), which will provide better connectivity to Ghatkopar and Vidyavihar, a group of residents led by the local units of Shiv Sena have started an agitation to save an old temple of Mari Aai in Ghatkopar.
This temple that is located close to the Vidyavihar West ticket booking office is coming in the way of ROB, which connects the eastern and western parts of Vidyavihar.
Mari Aai is kuldevi of Ghatkoper just as Goddess Mumbadevi is kuldevi of Mumbai. Because of Goddess Mari Aai’s blessings, Ghatkopar has progressed so much. The temple is very small – five feet by three feet.
According to locals, Sena controls the BMC, but no senior leader has come forward to help the residents. While the Ghatkopar residents said if need be, the residents will hold a rasta roko protest to force the government to save the temple.
A letter has been also sent a letter to the assistant commissioner of N Ward and Central Railway to save the temple, said local Shiv Sena workers.
However, the BMC engineers have said that it can shift the temple to another place, but the bridge construction will not stop.
The former minister and BJP leader Prakash Mehta said Members of all parties have come forward to save the temple and doing their best for it.
However, the bridge is being constructed by the BMC, after it received all clearances, including those from the railways. Maharashtra’s longest girder of 99.35 m will be installed on this bridge that will be constructed in the eastern suburb of Vidyavihar.