Mumbai News: Breach Candy Residents’ Parking Plan Gets Green Light For Site Inspection By Traffic Police
In a step ahead in execution of the parking plan submitted by the Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF), the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare has ordered for site inspections and study the feasibility. On Wednesday, Breach Candy residents had a joint meeting with the Kumbhare and BMC D ward's traffic officials seeking approvals for their proposed parking lots.
"The joint CP was impressed by our parking plan and appreciated the ground work. He has directed the Senior Police Inspector to survey the proposed parking lots. Once the traffic department gives their final approval, the BMC will be executing the plan," said N Lakhani, a Breach Candy resident who was present at the meeting and has played a key role is preparing the plan
In its May 13th edition, The Free Press Journal had reported that the BCRF has submitted its plan for overground parking lots on the Bhulabhai Desai Road and the Breach Candy area to the authorities as asked by the BMC.
The parking plan is broadly divided into ‘Residents Pay & Park zones’ and ‘Visitors Pay & Park zones’. The residents' parking is proposed at five locations: Behind Indian Oil Petrol Pump, L&T site office, in front of Signature Garden, Mona Apartment Lane and Akruti Pay & Park facility, with a total capacity of accommodating a maximum of 195 cars. While the visitors’ parking spaces are proposed at Setalvad Lane, Amarsons Garden Lane, Mazda and Dil Pazir, Sehar Agiary Lane, BCH Parking, Navroze, Akruti and the Haji Ali underground parking facility, accommodating a total of maximum 672 vehicles.
The civic body had asked the BCRF to suggest an alternative parking space after its original plan to construct two-storeyed underground parking was shelved, following intense objections from the residents. The BMC's underground parking was planned behind Tata Garden near Amarsons junction, accomodating 246 vehicles. The construction work had also begun, but the residents voiced concerns over the traffic congestion that would come if the underground parking is built in the area.
Lakhani said, "Our parking plan consists Pay and Park facilities. It is beneficial for the BMC as well as residents. Several times the residents and even visitors have to pay the fine of Rs 1,500 for parking cars at No Parking Zone. The residents are willing to pay parking fees to the civic body, instead of penalties. If we have a pay and park operated by the BMC, it will not only be safe but financially feasible for residents and civic body can also earn revenue. Our proposed parking lots are divided at several locations and not concentrated at one area. Thus, it will prevent traffic congestion as well."
"The Coastal Road from Bandra-Worli sealink to Marine Drive will be open for traffic movement 24/7 from July. Additionally, sooner or later the promenade alongside the Coastal Road will be open to the public sooner or later. Thus, there will be more traffic flow and visitors in the Breach Candy and nearby areas. We expect the authorities to work on the execution of the parking plan soon," Lakhani added.
Despite repeated attempts, joint commissioner of police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare and BMC's Chief Engineer (Traffic) could not be reached for a comment.
The BMC's underground parking plan at at Amarsons junction was one of the four parking facilities planned along the arterial Coastal Road project. Collectively, the four parking lots would accommodate more than 1,850 vehicles. BMC had said the proposal for all parking lots had received all prerequisite approvals in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) plan.
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