No vendetta at all against Bombay Gymkhana: BMC chief

The parking problem at the Bombay Gymkhana Club in Fort has been simmering for a while. Club buzz is that the top babus and BMC top brass are on a "revenge" mission to target the club by removing its parking in designated spots on the footpath, because they have not been ‘appeased' by getting membership to the elite SoBo club.

The Bombay Gymkhana president says the footpath where club members park has been maintained by the club, and it is "free from vagrants and encroachments." File pic

Ajoy Mehta, BMC Commissioner said, "The vendetta theory is absolute rubbish. Removing parking is no revenge for anything."

Mehta added that the footpaths need to be cleared because, "Footpaths are for walking. We are also on a drive to clear CST and Churchgate station hawkers. We have already removed seven shops from the CST subway. We are moving according to a Standing Committee resolution, which says parking on the footpath on the Hazarimal Somani Marg must be completely stopped."

RN Renjen, Bombay Gym Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said, "The club's parking permission expired on July 15 this year. We have asked for a renewal for one more year." Renjen claimed that even with the current Bombay Gym parking, "The footpath width is wide enough for pedestrians to walk. Currently, we have parking permission at the rate of R36 lakh per annum to the BMC. We also maintain the parking area, lighting, and get the road washed."

Club president Darius Udwadia did not wish to respond to club buzz about "favours" given or not given. "I do not want to say anything on assumptions. We do not want to go to court; that is our last option. Yet, it is a fact that we have been receiving a number of notices, excise notice, fire notice, widening of Hazarimal Somani Marg notice… as if we have done everything wrong. We have answered everything. Now, we need to resolve the parking issue and the ball is in the Corporation's court."

Udwadia made a case of how well the footpath has been maintained by the club, "free from vagrants and encroachments. We are a 140-year-old iconic and law-abiding club. Early mornings, the public walks on the grounds for fresh air and exercise. To use the elite tag is unfair," the president signed off, saying their policy is, "Live and let live," and the club had given a number of options, to resolve the parking impasse.