Mumbai: Residents of Bamanwada village in Andheri (East) have opposed a road widening project, saying that the sanctioned Development Plan 2034 does not indicate any road widening at the location and that the project would obliterate heritage features of the centuries-old village.
Referring to a recent survey conducted by officials of the K-East municipal ward regarding the proposed widening of an internal road inside Bamanwada Gaothan, the residents have written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's office objecting to the project.
They have alleged that the road widening is being done at the behest of private builders and have demanded a revocation of the plans. They have pointed out that Bamanwada, a village that predates modern Mumbai, is a historically significant area known for its old-world charm, heritage homes, and tranquil environment.
The existing infrastructure has sustained the locality's unique character for generations, and any unnecessary modifications threaten to disrupt its heritage and serenity, said the letter from citizens' group Watchdog Foundation.
Residents alleged that a few years ago, the BMC demolished the compound walls of certain houses to facilitate high-rise constructions. We fear that a similar motive is at play again to accommodate private developers under the guise of road widening, they alleged.
Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation, said Bamanwada Gaothan's distinct cultural identity should be preserved. "It is pertinent to highlight that the sanctioned Development Plan 2034 does not indicate any road widening in Bamanwada Gaothan. If such a proposal does not exist in the approved plan, then under whose authority and for whose benefit is this project being undertaken?" asked Pimenta.
