BJP opposes plan for town hall at Azad Maidan again

Mumbai: The BJP in the BMC opposed the civic administration's proposal to construct a town hall at the gymkhana grounds near Azad Maidan during the civic standing committee meeting held on Wednesday, and demanded that the site be used to build a new, larger civic hall to address space constraints faced by 232 corporators. This is for the fourth time that the party has opposed the plan.The proposal, prepared by the civic body, was repeatedly placed before the standing committee for approval, but each time was kept on hold. At Wednesday's meeting, the proposal was sent back to the administration.The plan envisioned a govt-backed town hall, described as a formal civic auditorium designed to host public dialogue. The project was also conceived as a tourist attraction, featuring a glass dome and a viewing gallery offering panoramic views of the surrounding heritage precinct. A rooftop cafeteria was part of the proposal.To remain in harmony with the heritage character of the area, the structure's height was planned to be proportionate, ensuring it does not obstruct the visibility or aesthetics of nearby historic landmarks. Therefore, a ground-plus-four-storey building that would house the Town Hall, along with restaurants, and would be accessible to the general public.During discussions, BJP leader in the BMC Ganesh Khankar objected to the plan, arguing that the prime location opposite the BMC headquarters should be reserved for a full-fledged municipal hall. Khankar said the current civic house was inadequate, forcing corporators to function in cramped conditions, with limited seating for even civic officials and journalists attending."The administration should withdraw this proposal and prioritise a new civic house instead. I'm not saying that a town hall plan should be scrapped, but the administration should try to see how to accommodate both," he said, adding that this proposal shouldn't be brought before the committee again unless changes as suggested are made in the plans.Standing committee chairman Prabhakar Shinde of the BJP also said that the administration was bound to make a plan that benefits everyone.With the proposal referred back, officials said they would need to appoint a consultant to suggest how the changes could be accommodated. "A corporation hall needs to be made in a manner that the seating is circular so that everyone can see the presiding officer speaking," said an official.