Despite problem of space, mall constructed in place of prime parking plot in Mumbai

Mumbai: Parking problem in Mumbai is an open secret. However, despite the paucity of space, the civic body continues to approve plans to reconstruct buildings on plots reserved for parking. The latest casualty is a 2,612 square metre-prime plot meant for public parking in the heart of the city.

A three-storey mall has come up on a plot reserved for parking on NC Kelkar Road in Dadar (West). The area is a popular destination among shoppers and attracts massive vehicular traffic throughout the day. The NC Kelkar Road is a busy junction because of the presence of the Plaza cinema hall, drama theatre Shivaji Mandir and the Yashwantrao Chavan Natyamandir.

Taking into consideration the geography of the area, the planning authority had made a provision for a public parking plot adjacent to Shivaji Mandir.

The shops and houses on the plots were to be relocated on an adjacent plot. However, Chamanlal Bardhan redeveloped the place and constructed Star Mall on the plot, leaving no open space for parking.

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There were two plots adjacent to Shivaji Mandir - No 103 and 104 - reserved for residential and public parking. The total area of these plots is 2612 square metres. Permission for redevelopment was granted on the condition that the developer must provide a parking lot on the plot and give permanent entry and exit points from the Ganesh Peth lane. The permission also mentioned that there must be open space left in the parking plot for people to avail of it.

However, the developer has only created an underground parking facility on the plot. It can be used only by people who visit the Star Mall, which was inaugurated on Friday. The others would have no space to park their cars. As per the development plan, the developer was supposed to give a separate public parking area to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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In his agreement with the BMC and the Shivaji Mandir trust, the developer promised that the public parking space would be kept free from encumbrance and will remain un-built upon at all times. However, these things remain only on paper. While the area mentioned in the approved plan has not been constructed upon, it has not been left open either. The builder has kept the open area as the lobby of the mall.

"It was not possible to construct a parking plot on only one piece of land, so the BMC had granted permission to amalgamate both the plots. We also handed over space to park 45 cars to the BMC," said Champalal Bardhan, developer of the Star Mall. "The plot reserved for parking was too small - around 15,000 square metre. Only 45 cars can be parked in that area."

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Bardhan said they have also rehabilitated all the tenants and shop owners. "There is nothing wrong in the deal. We have all the approved plans and permissions," he said. D Darade, sub-engineer of the building proposal department of G-South ward, refused to speak on the issue.

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