Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak renovation plan sparks resident anger ahead of Ganpati

Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The proposed renovation work around Siddhivinayak Temple has triggered growing resentment among residents, with locals threatening a large-scale protest if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fails to address their concerns and defer the work until after the Ganpati festival which begins on September 14 this year.

Conflicting claims

According to Raut, the BMC maintained that the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust had asked the civic body to commence the work immediately. The trust, however, has told mid-day that it made no such request and that the renovation work falls under the corporation's purview. "We have clearly conveyed that the work should not begin during the Ganpati festival. Starting it now will create severe inconvenience for residents, devotees and traffic movement in the area," Raut said.

[popcorn number="Oct 1" desc="Date residents want work to be deferred till" class="Default"]

The temple's front entrance is expected to remain temporarily shut during the work, which is likely to take about two years. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Local Speak

Raj Narwekar, local resident
‘Every time a major religious event takes place, residents are expected to adjust. Our gates, access roads, and daily movement cannot simply be blocked without consulting us. The authorities need to think about the people who live here.'

Manisha Joshi, local resident
‘We are not against development. We are only asking that the work be started after October 1, once the Ganpati festival is over. This will reduce pressure on the roads and prevent unnecessary conflict.'

Two meetings, no solution

Vishakha Raut, local corporator
‘First we conducted a meeting on Monday evening with local BMC ward officers. They declined to resolve our issue and told us that they have pressure from their seniors to begin work. So we approached the higher officials who had asked us to meet on Tuesday, but then didn't give us time. The meeting happened on Wednesday, but it didn't result in a solution acceptable to the residents.'

Meeting next week

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed officials to hold another meeting next week, most likely on Tuesday, with the police, the traffic department, and local representatives to explore a solution.

‘Willing to protest'

"We hope for a practical solution. But if the concerns of residents are ignored again, people will have no option but to come out in large numbers and protest. The works are going to take at least two years, as per information given by the authorities. This means, on every Tuesday, when the temple receives maximum devotees on regular days, the residents are somehow going to face the brunt. It's unfair if such additional burdens are put. Also, it's the matter of access to emergency services. Thus, the best solution is to begin works post the Ganesh festival," Raut said.