Mumbai: Mahalaxmi joins the race for Mayor's official residence

Mahalaxmi could soon become the mayors turf with the BMC contemplating an 11972sqm plot near the racecourse as the future address of Mumbais first citizen The civic body came up with this Plan B a week after MNS chief Raj Thackeray raised objections to the original plan to convert the Shivaji Park Gymkhana into the mayoral residenceThe existing mayors bungalow at Shivaji Park Dadar is soon to make way for the proposed Bal Thackeray memorial for which the BMC has already given advanced possession to the Bal Thackeray Memorial TrustThe plot is located on Keshavrao Khade Marg near racecourse PicBipin KokateAs Shivaji Park is close to the heart of Shiv Sena leaders the political party wants the new residence to be built there as well The Sena was earlier considering converting the Shivaji Park Gymkhana into the mayoral residence and the BMC even changed the plots land use to municipal housing in the Development Plan 2034However last week MNS chief Raj Thackeray visited civic commissioner Ajoy Mehta and said that his party would not allow the conversion of the gymkhana as it was a place for recreation and should not be used for official residence Perhaps fearing opposition from locals who have in the past objected to Senas Dussehra rallies and other events being held at the park senior Sainiks are now considering the Mahalaxmi plot as a strong optionThe mayors bungalow at Shivaji Park is set to make way for the Bal Thackeray memorial file picWhile the Mayor was adamantly against shifting to the suburbs this plot is centrally located on Keshavrao Khade Marg near the Mahalaxmi Racecourse Not only is this a posh locality but the land is vacant and already earmarked for municipal housing Sized at 11972 square metres it is in fact marginally bigger than the current mayoral residence 11551 sqm at Shivaji Park and far larger than the Gymkhanas 2400 sqm All in all the Mahalaxmi plot looks like the best optionHowever the final decision lies with Sena A senior civic official said The options will be given to Shiv Sena and the party leaders will finalise the place While the Gymkhana was more or less finalised we were told to also keep the Mahalaxmi plot available as an optionThe Sena is also considering building the mayoral residence at Shivaji Park Gymkhana file picMayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar told midday The decision about the mayors new official residence is yet to be made The clock is ticking on the decision with the Sena expected to lay the foundation stone for the Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park in January Despite middays repeated attempts to contact BMC chief Mehta he remained unavailable for commentNot for this MayorMayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar will be shifting to a bungalow at the Veermata Jijabai Udyan and Zoo Since his term ends in nine months it is unlikely that he will get to enjoy the new residence wherever it is constructed And if civic officials and Sena sources are to be believed even the next mayor is unlikely to shift to the new house It might take two to three years for construction as the Sena wants to ensure that it constructs a stateoftheart facility for the citys first citizen which will remain untouched for another centuryThe zoo bungalowWhile Mahadeshwar was unwilling to move to the zoo bungalow it was once occupied by a former additional civic chief who seemed unwilling to vacate it midday had reported how the IAS officer vacated it only after the BMC marked the house as the mayoral bungalow While Sena is not keen on the Mayor shifting to the zoo this is the only spacious official residence that is vacant and can be renovated by JanuaryCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates