Decide on Mumbadevi parking project stay, state tells Speaker

Mumbai: The state govt has told assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to take a decision on the stay on the Rs 122 crore Mumbadevi robotic parking tower following municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani's warning about cost escalation in the project. The state urban development (UD) department had asked the state legislature to bring this issue to the Speaker's attention and take orders from him. The UD department informed the legislature's principal secretary Jitendra Bhule in a letter last week that the BMC clarified there are no irregularities in the project and the civic body must not be held responsible for any cost escalation. Work on the partly-constructed robotic parking tower, which can house 600 vehicles, is stuck since the stay in July 2024. "In view of the request made by the BMC, in accordance with the point of propriety raised in the assembly in the matter... BMC request seeking guidance/orders to start the work of the parking lot is being submitted for your perusal. It is being requested to bring to the attention of the Speaker, the Legislative Assembly, and inform the UD department about the further action after receiving appropriate orders from the Speaker," the UD's letter to Bhule stated.Narwekar said he opposed the 17-storey robotic parking tower as there was opposition from locals. "This parking tower will damage the aesthetics and heritage of the iconic Mumbadevi temple. There is a big question mark on its viability and feasibility. It will damage the view of the Mumbadevi temple, so it is a question of faith and devotion," he said.The Shree Mumbadevi Mandir Charities (SMMC), which manages the iconic temple, said it has no objection to the parking tower if their suggestions are incorporated. The trust stated that in the current parking tower, the BMC must provide separate entry and exit so that traffic movement is not a hindrance to pedestrian movement of devotees. It also said the BMC must provide X-ray scanners at the entrance of the parking tower to scan vehicles for security.Apart from SMMC, local trade associations such as the Mumbai Wholesale Gold Jewellers Association, All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council, and India Bullion and Jewellers Association have demanded the parking tower be started soon.