Mumbai: Aaditya Thackeray inaugurates open-gym; Sena-run BMC dismantle it

In an embarrassing turn of events for Shiv Sena, which controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body officials on Thursday dismantled an open air gymnasium inaugurated by Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray

Thackeray had inaugurated the open-gym on Wednesday morning alongside actor Dino Morea and Jacqueline Fernandez, opposite Hotel Intercontinental along the Marine Drive promenade. 

However, citing various restriction orders and rule against installing any unit along the road, marked as VVIP passage and as a heritage site, civic officials from C-Ward dismantled the open-gym on Thursday.

They impounded the multiple-exercise unit, facilitated by Morea, who also runs a fitness chain and has been instrumental in erecting several such open-gyms in Mumbai.

Image Courtesy: Kunal Chonkar

Upon getting a heed of the situation, Thackeray reportedly called up the C-Ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sangeeta Hasnale explaining the procurement of valid permissions from both heritage committee and Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta for installing the open gym.

Within hours of the Yuva Sena brandishing the permission letters, the civic team which had dismantled the unit, affixed it again.

Thackeray took to Twitter to clarify the incident. 

@zee24taasnews wrong info. Ward officer unaware of MC permission. Local officials apologised and placing it again

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 16, 2015

Meanwhile, none of the C ward officials were available to comment on the fiasco.