Mumbai: The citizens’ protest against the multi-level robotic parking project outside Matunga Central railway station has taken a new turn. The BJP vice-president from the Mumbai South-Central constituency, Dharmendra Sharma, has written to the Union minister for railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging him to cancel the tender for the project.
About The Project
The project has been undertaken by the BMC and the railways gave an NOC last month. The citizens and activists are up in arms against the construction of this 20-plus-storeyed parking tower in a congested area. They have termed the project “a safety hazard” and a wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money. The project cost is over Rs 100 crore.
Highlighting the issue, Sharma has written to Vaishnaw that four large residential developments have allocated over 800 parking spaces under the BMC-approved plans within 200mt of the plot. He has also pointed out that additional residential towers within a 500 mt radius have provisions for more than 1,000 parking spaces.
Sharma, who is also a Matunga resident, has said in the letter, “Moreover, Rs 25 lakh for one parking space is unjustifiable and public funds should be diverted to more pressing community needs.” He has suggested making the area a ‘no-vehicle zone’, if decongestion is the priority. “The residents of Matunga stand united against this project and appeal to the Union minister to save this cherished locality from further congestion and environmental degradation,” he said.
