A volleyball ground in Girgaum Chowpatty faces potential loss due to plans for an electrical sub-station (Representative image)
An electrical sub-station for Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground road tunnel project has been planned on the ground, where, BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha says, 300-500 people play every day.
He said there are at least two alternative sites available for the sub-station, a railway plot across the road and a site in Chowpatty where work had previously started for an underground sub-station. Stressing that infrastructure development should not come at the cost of public open spaces, he urged the district administration to preserve the ground at Mafatlal Gymkhana. Lodha, along with several locals, met Mumbai city additional collector Bappasaheb Thorat and resident officer Shivananda Langdapure and asked the district administration to preserve the playground.
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Every day, between 300 and 500 people play here from 6am onwards.
He said there are at least two alternative sites available. Lodha said nearly all members of the committee had agreed to consider the alternative sites. Since alternatives are available, our request is that this ground be preserved for public use,” he said. Lodha said he had held discussions with MMRDA officials and senior members of the committee on the issue. A joint meeting will be convened after Diwali to arrive at a final solution, he said.
A high-power committee had proposed setting up the substation on the volleyball ground. “Volleyball is a sport played by ordinary citizens.