HC stops work on Shivaji Park beautification

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday put paid to the Shiv Sena-ruled BMC's plan to unveil a mural of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Shivaji Park as part of the celebrations of Maharashtra Day on May 1. A division bench of Justice F I Rebello and Justice Amjad Sayed passed an interim order, directing that work on the corporation's Rs 4.43-crore beautificaiton plan for the Dadar park be stopped.



Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by two citizens challenging the makeover plan, the judges directed the BMC to respond to the allegations before the next date of hearing slated for May 5.



Shivaji Park is a landmark maidan for Mumbai, establishing its reputation as the playground of cricket icons, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. The park is spread over 93,700 sq m.



The petitioners, Durgesh Warty and Manoj Govel, alleged arbitrary and illegal action even as the contracts, which ran into crores of rupees, were given out without inviting tenders.



The Shivaji Park beautification was planned in three phases. The first phase, for increasing the green cover, was completed at a cost of Rs 1.90 crore. In the second phase, the pathway was to be relaid, fibre benches installed and wall repaired at a cost of Rs 3.15 crore. The third phase involved the construction of two walls behind the Meenatai Thackeray statue and murals depicting the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji at a cost of Rs 1.28 crore.



According to the petitioners, the work on the second phase was given to Ms Valson and Karan builders. The third phase was sanctioned in a meeting on March 10 at the mayor's bungalow, where Sena MLA Diwakara Raote was also present, the petitioners said. The work orders were issued to Ms Ana Associates without tenders or the authorisation of the standing committee, the petitioners claimed, adding that it was done under political pressure.



"The mural would have reduced the width of the approach road to the park. It is not allowed to build any structure in a playground like Shivaji Park,'' said the PIL.
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