The Maharashtra government has scrapped its controversial plan to reserve four lanes around the Mantralaya for exclusive parking of government employees’ vehicles after facing opposition from residents in South Mumbai. The decision, which was met with immediate backlash, particularly from residents of Nariman Point, Karve Road, and Oval Maidan, led to a swift revision in the policy.
The original plan aimed to provide dedicated parking space for employees of the Mantralaya, but it threatened to encroach upon the parking lanes traditionally used by residents. Many of these residents, living in heritage buildings that were constructed in the 1940s and lacked in-built parking facilities, had relied on these public lanes to park their vehicles. They pay a monthly fee ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹10,000 for parking privileges, making the sudden announcement of reserved spaces for government employees deeply problematic. Residents, represented by Advanced Locality Management (ALM) groups and the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Association, approached Colaba MLA and Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to intervene.
The speaker understanding the residents’ grievances, convened a meeting with government officials and emphasised the unfairness of taking away parking spaces from local residents who had limited alternatives. During the meeting, residents pointed out that the layout of the buildings, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, did not include provision for parking, as these buildings were designed during the British era when cars were a rarity. After understanding the unique challenges faced by the residents, the government decided to shelve the plan. As an alternative, the state has arranged for Mantralaya employees to park their vehicles at the CR2 shopping mall in Nariman Point, where the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made 200 parking spots available free of charge for a year.
However, this solution has not been fully embraced by the employees, as the walk from the parking facility to Mantralaya takes over 13 minutes, leading to frustration. Additionally, these 200 parking spots are underutilised, as the government requires at least 500 spots for all staff members. Despite these challenges, the residents of South Mumbai have expressed their relief. Many feared that they would once again lose access to their parking space, something that has been encroached upon several times in the past. “We are grateful to the government official for his intervention. The government must focus on creating proper parking infrastructure for its employees, without disrupting the lives of local residents,” said a spokesperson from the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Association. Residents now hope that this matter has been permanently resolved and that future parking plans will not infringe upon their daily lives.
