Opening up yet another front against the proposed coastal road, Versova residents have written to the civic body, asking it to either realign the freeway or take it underground to save their beloved 0.8-acre Nana-Nani Park from destruction
The proposed Nariman Point-Kandivli coastal road seems to be encountering resistance at every turn. While Bandra residents’ protest against the proposed freeway got a big fillip with Aamir Khan’s wife, filmmaker Kiran Rao lending support to their cause on Independence Day, Versova residents told mid-day that they, too, have been opposing the project and have written to the BMC with their objections.
Residents claim that not only will the erection of columns for the road lead to the cutting of age-old trees and the digging up of lawns and jogging tracks, it will lead to the remaining shrubs living in the shadow of the proposed eight-lane freeway. Pics/Nimesh Dave
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Residents contend that the 33.5-km freeway will pass right over their beloved, one-of-a-kind Nana-Nani Park in Seven Bungalows (see box), resulting in the cutting of trees and digging up of jogging tracks and lawns for construction of the stilts (columns). The shrubs that survive, they say, will have to live under the shadow of the eight-lane highway.
Hussain Indorewala, assistant professor at Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture, who has been studying the coastal road project closely, confirmed the alignment. “According to the draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) released by the BMC, the coastal road will pass right over the park on stilts.
This means the stilts will be erected inside the park and it will be virtually destroyed. Tall trees will have to be cut and the park will lose most of its beauty.” Residents of Seven Bungalows, where the park is located, said the possibility of their beloved park’s destruction is giving them sleepless nights. This will hurt senior citizens the most, who go to the park to exercise, walk and hold laughter club and mahila mandal meetings.
Look below
“We were shocked to find out that the coastal road would pass over the park. If the road will take the form of an undersea tunnel beneath Juhu and Girgaum Chowpatty, why not have it underground here as well?
We have submitted our suggestions and objections to the BMC and hope something positive comes out of it. We will be happy even if they realign the freeway,” said Ved Bhasin, chairman of the Save Versova Beach Association, which maintains the park.
The Association had also undertaken signature drives in the past to register their protest. Another senior citizen, N K Bhutani who has been living in the area for almost 50 years said, “We are not against development. But this is the only park for senior citizens in this area. Where will we go?” Manohar Barolia, another resident, said they will do everything they can to save the park.
BMC speak
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, who is in-charge of the coastal road project, said, “I am not aware of this particular case. But right now, the draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the coastal road is in the public domain and people are free to register their objections. We will take a decision only on the basis of merit and as per the law.” The last date for submitting suggestions and objections is August 27.
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