The court-appointed committee says the proposed altercations are unwarranted
Smita Deshmukh
The phase II of the Rs 130-crore Marine Drive Beautification Project has now
come under cloud with a Bombay High Court-appointed committee for chowpatty
objecting to the upgradation. While the state is being asked to file a reply
by March 14, Ratan Batliboi, the architect of the project, told DNA that he
was interested in a dialogue with the committee instead of a legal recourse.
Funded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the
phase II proposes a coconut groove along the beach integrating the existing
Nana Nani Park and the Tilak Udyan to ensure they get a ‘beach character’.
It also proposes a memorial park which will have statues of prominent
citizens in the city. The footpath, along the groove, will be divided into
two parts: one going along the plantation and another entering within.
Taking into consideration the huge crowd for the annual Ganesh festivals,
special entrances are designed for the same and other such functions. And at
the Tambe chowk leading to Teen Batti, the plan proposes a sunrise point
integrating the existing three spaces into one.
“We have opposed the integration of the existing gardens as it would create
problems during Ganesh immersion. The statue park will also completely
change the character of the beach, which cannot be under as per HC
directive,” said RA Rajeev, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) and a
committee member. Rajeev said, “In 2003, during the tenure of former Chief
Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, there was a move to have a statue park, which
was opposed. As per the master plan, no further greening of the beach will
be allowed,” added activist Indrani Malkani, another HC committee member.
Malkani also opposed the proposed amphitheatre planned at the Birla Kreeda
Kendra.
“Why an amphitheatre at Nariman Point at the land’s end?” she asked.
Batliboi, who has already made a presentation to the HC committee, said that
he was interested in a dialogue.
“I gave a 300-page report to the members. We are willing to make changes as
per their suggestions,” he added. T Chandrashekhar, metropolitan
commissioner, said permission for the phase II had to be procured by
Batliboi.
“We will go by the rule book. The suggestions and objections of the HC
committee will be adhered to,” he said. Meanwhile, Rs 30-crore phase I of
the project, consisting of granite stonework the along the 3.5-km promenade
is in last stage, with three walking zones made up of kerbstones and paver
blocks.n A man feeds pigeons at Marine Lines. The court-appointed panel has
said the beach character cannot be changed – Vipin Pawar.DNA