BMC cancels tender for swimming pool in Priyadarshini Park

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to cancel the tender for a swimming pool in Priyadarshini Park at Napean Sea Road. A letter stating the same was given to the Napean Sea Road Citizens Forum (NSRCF) by the office of deputy municipal architect (garden cell). The order for cancellation of tender was given after municipal commissioner put the decision on hold.

Priyadarshini Park has been in the news lately ever since BMC stated that it would want to take over the park. Malabar Hill Citizens Forum (MHCF), which looks after the space, has been opposing the move. Even for the swimming pool, it had written to the BMC.

According to what the local residents were told, BMC had plans to reduce the size of Priyardarshini Park by adding a fire station and a swimming pool, along with other facilities. "We are happy they have cancelled that. When we discovered they were planning on a swimming pool, we sent a letter to them in protest. BMC has said they want to take over the park. Our stand has always been that the park should be maintained the same way or it should be made better. MCHF has till now done a good job of keeping the park in good shape," said Mukul Mehra, honorary secretary of the NSRCF.

"We are against the fire station there because we do not want the park size to be reduced. BMC has said they want one acre of the park reduced for the fire station. There are other viable plots of land where they can put the fire station that are more central than Napeaan Sea Road and provide faster access to other areas. Traffic is the main issue at Napean Sea Road and it is better to put a fire station in a more central location," he added