Mankhurd entry gate awaits PWD permission

It has been learnt that the officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are awaiting permission from the Public Works Department (PWD) to construct a massive entry gate at Mankhurd, which would be on the lines of Dahisar entry gate.

The entry gate to the city at Dahisar was completed just a year ago at the cost of Rs 7 crore. Officials want the Mankhurd gate to be built on the same lines as the one at Dahisar. File pic

The BMC officials claimed that the proposal is taking long for approval because the road on which they want to build the gate falls under PWD's jurisdiction, and nothing can be done unless it gives them a go-ahead.u00a0

A BMC official from the Architecture Department said, "We had submitted it long ago and are hoping for a positive reply from the PWD. The road where we want to have the gate falls under them. The costing of this project will be done only after they grant us permission."

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Rajiv Jalota was unavailable for comment. Whereas PWD officials said they would take another 18 months to reply to the civic body's request, as currently road-widening work is ongoing on the Sion-Panvel Highway.u00a0

PWD executive engineer Ravindra Gawanjal said, "We will surely give them permission, but currently we cannot as work is going on and will take a year-and-a-half to be completed. So, this proposal will be looked into only after the completion of the ongoing work."

Standing Committee Chairperson Rahul Shewale, a corporator from Mankhurd, is very interested in getting this project to begin at its earliest so that the entry point to the city appears beautiful. He also emphasised that the BMC should arrange a meeting with the PWD officials, so that the needful could be done as soon as possible.

Shewale said, "There is a need to have an entry gate at Mankhurd, which will be on the lines of the Dahisar entry gate. The proposal is pending for the want of PWD permission. The administration should arrange meetings and find a quick solution to this."

The BMC had built massive entry gates at Dahisar and Thane, welcoming and thanking motorists for visiting Mumbai. The Dahisar gate was built with an approximate cost of Rs 7 crore and the construction was completed just a year ago.