Estimated to cost between Rs 8 crore and Rs 10 crore, the rest house is expected to be ready by March next year
The project was initially proposed on the premises of the 57-year-old B D Bhalekar School. The plan to demolish the school building and construct the rest house, however, sparked strong opposition from residents, activists and public representatives. A citizens’ group, School Bachao Samiti, staged weeklong protests, demanding that the school be preserved for educational purposes and a new Marathi-medium school be developed instead. Following the public backlash, NMC shifted the project to its current location near Gangapur Road.
The project, estimated to cost between Rs 8 crore and Rs 10 crore, has received Rs 4 crore from District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC), while the remaining funds will be provided by NMC. “We have completed nearly 80% of the work.
The facility will be operated by NMC,” a civic official said. The remaining construction is expected to get over within the next three to four months.