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The robotic parking tower near Mumbai's Mumbadevi temple, planned at INR 122 crore for 600 vehicles, remains stalled due to heritage and aesthetics concerns raised in mid 2024. The contractor, M/s SMS Limited, has issued a legal notice to the BMC seeking INR 55 crore in damages, citing unjustified suspension and mounting costs. BMC officials maintain that the project had no irregularities and warned of rising expenses, while local traders stress the need for the facility. The dispute highlights tensions between urban development and cultural preservation.
The robotic parking tower project near Mumbai's Mumbadevi temple has been stalled since mid 2024 after a stop order was issued due to concerns over its impact on the temple's heritage and aesthetics. Planned as a 17 storey facility with the capacity to accommodate around 600 vehicles, the project was estimated to cost INR 122 crore and aimed to ease parking pressures in the congested area. Despite repeated requests from the civic body, construction has not resumed, leading to mounting delays and costs. Advertisement
In the past week, the contractor, M/s SMS Limited, issued a legal notice to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), invoking the arbitration clause in their contract and seeking INR 55 crore in damages. The contractor argued that the suspension of work was unjustified and lacked proper reasoning, causing financial and operational losses. They emphasized that ongoing costs due to the halt are rising and requested the matter be resolved quickly through arbitration.
BMC officials stated that they had already informed the state government that the project did not have any irregularities and highlighted that further delays would increase costs. However, they said they had not received any instructions to resume work. Traders and business associations in the area have repeatedly urged the civic body to restart construction, stressing the urgent need for additional parking space to serve local businesses and visitors.
Earlier, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar raised concerns that the 17 storey structure could affect the visibility and devotion practices at the Mumbadevi temple. He suggested that any financial liabilities arising from the stoppage should be recovered from officials who approved the project without adequate local consultation.
The ongoing legal dispute also reflects broader challenges for Mumbai's urban infrastructure projects, where the implementation of multilevel and robotic parking towers often faces legal, financial, and public scrutiny. If the contractor's claim is upheld, the BMC may have to bear a significant financial burden, potentially influencing how similar projects are approved and executed in the future.
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