The fitness station, installed by actor Dino Morea's fitness company, got embroiled in a controversy the very next day after it was removed by the assistant commissioner of C ward.
The open air fitness station on Marine Drive promenade, which was inaugurated by Aditya Thackeray on Wednesday, has permission for only three months.
The fitness station, installed by actor Dino Morea's fitness company, got embroiled in a controversy the very next day after it was removed by the assistant commissioner of C ward.
However, the Thackerays made it a prestige issue and put pressure on the civic chief to install the station back within hours.
The fitness station is installed on an experimental basis.
In fact, Marine Drive residents have strongly objected to the fitness station on the promenade. Residents and regular walkers feel that having such a fitness station is fantastic, but it would have been best if it was on a beach or in a garden.
The C ward assistant commissioner took action against the station since the installation opposite Police Gymkhana did not have the requisite permissions.
However, a senior Sena leader has said that eventually Dino Morea's company DM Fitness Pvt Ltd was asked to seek official permission by going through the requisite process within a week. The permission letter flaunted by the Sena leaders on Thursday was only from the A ward and not for the C ward jurisdiction. Also, the letter clearly states that the fitness station allowed by the municipal commissioner is for three months on experimental basis. The municipal commissioner had warned that the fitness station should not be a cause of nuisance to public and the beauty and openness of Marine Drive should not be affected.
Residents of Marine Drive, however, have expressed their displeasure over permissions given by BMC and the heritage committee. Mahendra Hemdev, a resident, said that though the idea of open fitness centre will benefit a lot of citizens in and around the area, their objection was the spot where it is installed. "It would have been better if it was installed on the beach or in a garden," said Hemdev.
Prakashchand Jain, president of Senior Citizens' Association of Marine Drive, said: "We will oppose the fitness station. Why does BMC give such permissions? There is a garden and a beach for such things," said Jain.
Nitesh Rane demands action
Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, son of Narayan Rane, met municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta and demanded immediate removal of the fitness station. According to Rane, the station is illegal and is put up at an inappropriate place. "If the fitness station is illegally installed, it should be removed. How can BMC replace it again within a few hours. I will follow up the case," said Rane.
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