The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has recently relocated the century-old Parsi Gate at Marine Drive to make way for the coastal road project. While one pillar of the gate was moved on April 17, the other was moved three days later that is on April 20.
After the coastal road is done, the pillars of the iconic Parsi Gate will be relocated 75 metres northwest of the original location, said a BMC official. All permissions were secured before moving the pillars, the official said, adding that the pillars and all material have been preserved safely.
Havovi Sukhadwala who had started an online petition to save Parsi Gate said that zoroastrians have been paying respects to Avan Yazad (water deity) for over a century at Parsi Gate. Hindus too use this safe access to immerse offerings on Poornima and ashes from Chandanwadi crematorium.
Besides, Corporator Harshita Narwekar from the BJP said she had been following up the issue. It seems BMC decided to go ahead despite citizens’ concern, she said.
Meanwhile, members of the Parsi community were aggrieved with the BMC earlier. In March, the civic body has already acquired a NOC from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) for construction work at Marine Drive.
In addition, a group of concerned citizens from the Parsi community last month went to the BMC to meet the civic chief, Iqbal Singh Chahal, to urge him not to relocate the structure.
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