It took the BMC 23 years to wake up from its slumber, and issue a final notice to a developer, who was handed over the responsibility of redevelopment of Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir amphitheatre, also known as Rang Mandir
It took the BMC 23 years to wake up from its slumber, and issue a final notice to a developer, who was handed over the responsibility of the redevelopment of Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir amphitheatre, also known as Rang Mandir. The structure was to be built on a prime plot measuring 9,950 sq m in Bandra West — but the builder failed to do so all these years.
The CEO of K R Foundation says they may inaugurate the auditorium soon. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
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On January 3, 2010, Sunday mid-day had exposed how the auditorium, which was to be redeveloped by K R Foundation in 1992, had missed its completion deadline by 18 years (at the time of publishing that article). Currently there are just seven more years for the 30 years lease agreement to expire. They had to pay Rs 3.16 lakh per year for the lease.
mid-day has a copy of a final order, issued by the Assistant Commissioner, Estates, on Sept 24, which not only categorically gives the developer a 2015-end deadline to complete and commission the auditorium or face action, but also seeks a fine of R4,75,96,265, toward revenue loss due to late completion of work.
Aftab Siddique, a Bandra-based activist, who was responsible for unearthing the facts of the case under RTI, questioned why the municipal commissioner revoked his own previous order against a defaulter of 23 years.
“It is obvious that there is political pressure at play, that too at a time when there are just seven years of lease pending and BMC has scrapped the care taker policy,” she alleged. Siddique claimed that she had papers which clearly showed that the project had been re-validated over six times from the time the agreement had been signed.
“Contrary to the claims made by the K R Raheja group, that just like their other numerous charitable hospitals and colleges, which have been constructed without taking a single rupee in donation from anyone, the agreement copy (SUNDAY mid-day has a copy), clearly states the foundation shall be entitled and permitted to rent out the theatre for performing shows, dramas, musical programmes, and other social and cultural activities — thus giving it a commercial angle,” she alleged.
An RTI response from the BMC had also categorically stated that no building plans have been approved by the Building Proposal department of H West Ward, as per BMC records (SMD has a copy).
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