Mumbai student launches petition to turn spots over BEST bus depots’ parking into sports grounds

Signatures are clocking in steadily for Abhibhav Dujodwalarsquos petition on changeorg to utilise the space above bus depots in the city as sportsrecreation grounds Dujodwala a footballer started this petition on June 18 It has had a good response in a few days said the 16yearold student as he counted over 1500 signaturesAbhibhav Dujodwala says the BEST can generate revenue by commercialising the space above its parking levelsExcerpts from The Cathedral amp John Connon school Std XI studentrsquos petition accompanied by a video presentation said ldquoIn 2021 the city still has very little open space to offer its current 20668000 population mdash just over 1 sqm per person Imagine what can be done above the 854695 sqm that BESTrsquos 29 depots cover to change thatldquoMumbaikars are left to walk and play in their parking lots and on the streets Grounds are not operational during the monsoon and over booked during wedding season making their availability even more scarcerdquoThe petition cited reports stating that the BEST Undertaking was staring at financial losses This could be a big earner for the BEST Dujodwalarsquos petition said the 29 bus depotsrsquo space from Colaba to Vashi is equivalent to 800900 cricket nets or 17 football fields international size With a potential minimum 12hours a day availability that gives over 500000 people access to all yearround highquality multipurpose facilitiesldquoA selfsustainable business model can be built to modernise these bus depots A concrete grid structure constructed in and around the depots would allow for a few levels of parking space and elevated rooflevel multipurpose sports and recreation facilities These can be subleased to educational institutions sports clubs and others as well as serve as public recreational spaces at reasonable rates BEST can generate revenue from thisrdquo he saidLaunch padDujodwala said a vantage point view of the sprawling Colaba bus depot some time ago was his stopthinkingstartdoing moment ldquoI was awe struck by the space these depots had and decided to start a petition Some people told me this space could be given to builders for commercialresidential projects Yet why have more buildings More shrinkage of space This will also be an avenue for sustainable income we need to push for more recreational facilitiesrdquoSpeak outKomal Dujodwala Abhibhavrsquos mother looking at the petition through a broader lens said ldquoWe need to encourage Mumbaikars and concerned Indian citizens to speak up and engage in shaping the petitionrsquos outcome being heard by and encouraging those decision makers who have the leverage to see that this comes to fruition We want to create a massive nationwide movement in making these spaces available for every residentrsquos physical and mental wellbeingrdquoHaving said that the Dujodwalas are realistic enough to realise that a petition may not bring the change ldquoWe have had people tell us that petitions have garnered signatures in lakhs at times but have not got intended resultsrdquo Yet said the duo on an upbeat note ldquoThis is one way to be heard Collective voices are better than one and of course even better than nonerdquoUp and aboveSee the petition to lsquolevel uprsquo and lsquogreenrsquo the BEST lsquogaragersquo and make every sqm count by building sports and other recreation facilities atop BEST depots Check link httpchngitcYTqW5rKyN