HC allows parking of cars at Shivaji Park during Ganesh fest

The Bombay High Court today allowed the Maharashtra government and BMC to allot the iconic Shivaji Park ground for parking of vehicles during immersion of Ganesh idols, subject to certain conditions.
A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka directed the state government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore the ground to its original shape and repair damage if any, that might be cause due to parking of vehicles by people who throng the nearby beaches in large numbers for immersion of Ganesh idols.
The high court directed the government to form a committee within two weeks to locate an alternative plot of land other than Shivaji Park ground, for parking of vehicles during this period.

The bench asked it to direct the committee to submit its report to the high court within two months.
The direction to form the committee was given after the state government conveyed that it was open to the idea of forming a panel to locate a plot of land for parking instead of Shivaji Park ground.
As Shivaji Park, the sprawling ground at Dadar in Central Mumbai, has been declared a silence zone by the HC, it can be used only for sports and not for any other purpose. The HC's permission is required if the ground is used for cultural or other events.

Hence, the government and BMC move the HC every year to seek permission for parking of vehicles at Shivaji Park during Ganesh immersion. This year too, they did the same.

During the ten-day festival, hundreds of Ganesh idols are immersed into the sea by individual households and sarvajanik mandals (public organisations).
The bench observed that before considering the plea of the state government and BMC, it would take an undertaking from them that they would find an alternative place for parking of vehicles during Ganesh festival from next year.
Accordingly, the government informed the court that it was ready to form a committee for this purpose.