While the state government is planning the facility on one side of the road, the BMC will be developing the second one on the other side; the decisions were taken after a local MLA sent proposals independently to both
It’s a windfall of sports facilities for Borivli residents. If things go as per plan, the suburb is set to get two brand new sports complexes, opposite each other.
The 13-acre plot on one side of Eksar Road in Borivli (West), where the BMC will develop a sports complex. Pic/Nimesh Dave
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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to develop a sports complex on a 13-acre plot on Eksar Road in Borivli (West). Right on the other side of the road is a facility in the works by the state government; this, too, is a 13-acre plot. MiD DAY had reported on the development (‘State to build Rs 23-cr sports complex at Kandivli, October 30).
The two ventures are a result of proposals sent independently by MLA Gopal Shetty to both the state government and the civic body. While the state government allotted around Rs 24 crore for it in the 2013-14 budget, the BMC has estimated its project would cost Rs 100 crore. The BMC’s sports club will be multi-storeyed, replete with facilities for indoor and outdoor sports, along with a swimming pool and other amenities.
'Connecting' sports
Having realised that the same street would now have two sports facilities, the BMC plans to join the two with an underground subway. This would result in a total area of 26 acres (1.13 lakh square feet), which is bigger than Oval Maidan, which measures about 22 acres.
Gopal Shetty, the MLA from Borivli constituency, said, “I was trying for this project to work out for a long time. I had sent my proposals to both BMC and the state. It is actually happening now and BMC is expected to start work on the project this year. A 44-feet wide road separates the two plots and a subway will be built to connect the two.”
Work hasn’t even begun on either of the projects, but suggestions are being made to name the complexes. Shetty has written again to both the BMC and the state to name them after the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. That it would lead to utter confusion among citizens is completely another matter.
While the Shiv Sena is the ruling party in the BMC, a Congress CM leads the state. It remains to be seen who prevails, when the facilities actually see the light of the day. Shetty hasn’t stopped at this. He also wants one of the libraries, also in the proposal, be named after Sachin Tendulkar to honour his 100 centuries.
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