Chakala civic body shifts church's cross

A cross outside the Holy Family Church in Chakala was shifted inside the church premises on Tuesday after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a notice to the church authorities on Monday asking for it to be shifted. The BMC plans to relocate six such crosses in Andheri as part of a road-widening project.

More than three months after inspection at six such locations, the K-East ward of BMC failed to follow up the relocation of these crosses in the Andheri East area. Civic officials had visited these structures, along with the Catholic community members, in the month of July. However, the community members were waiting for the civic authority to revert.

On Monday, the church authority received a shifting letter after community members reminded them about the issue four times since September. A prayer meeting was announced by the church's priest on Tuesday before shifting the cross located on Chakala road.

ON NOTICE

In July, BMC had sent a demolition notice to pull down over 100-year-old crosses at six locations - Gundavli Lane 3, Marol Goathan, Marol Maroshi Road, Holy Family Church, Chakala and Vailankanni Grotto, Bamanwada. As per the community members, one of the crosses belongs to category A structure which can't be demolished.