The proposed renovation work around Siddhivinayak Temple has triggered growing resentment among residents, with locals threatening a large-scale protest if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fails to address their concerns and defer the work until after the Ganpati festival which begins on September 14 this year.

Conflicting claims

According to Raut, the BMC maintained that the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust had asked the civic body to commence the work immediately. The trust, however, has told mid-day that it made no such request and that the renovation work falls under the corporation’s purview. “We have clearly conveyed that the work should not begin during the Ganpati festival. Starting it now will create severe inconvenience for residents, devotees and traffic movement in the area,” Raut said.