The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to cancel its plan to construct a 23-story robotic parking tower near the Matunga (East) railway station. The project, worth INR 126 crore, had faced opposition from local residents and activists.
Recent meetings with high-ranking civic officials, including Ashwini Joshi, an additional municipal commissioner, and Bhushan Gagrani, the municipal commissioner, led to a consensus to drop the project. The decision was based on technical and legal evaluations.
The cancellation also came after campaigns led by activists, including Chetan Trivedi and the Petition Group, comprising Dr. Gaurang Vora and Kamlakar Shenoy. They argued that the project would block station access during emergencies, particularly rail accidents.
The BMC infrastructure department confirmed that the tender cancellation process is underway. An order to cancel the tender is expected later this week.
The proposal had raised questions due to several flaws. The Fire Brigade had only given a provisional no-objection certificate because the approval process occurred offline. Additionally, the plot lacked a city survey number. A feasibility study requested through an RTI revealed no mention of a parking tower near Matunga Central Railway Station.
Local activists claimed the project was designed to benefit a builder involved in a business deal in Matunga. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also criticised the plan. Its general secretary, Snehal Jadhav, highlighted the safety risks posed by the project, especially to college students and daily commuters in the area. Concerns were also raised over public safety and disruptions in the neighbourhood.
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