Dynasty synonymous with racing makes suggestion, as uncertainty looms over Mumbai racecourse land and controversy simmers
An aerial view of Mahalaxmi racecourse on August 5. Pic/Shadab Khan
The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) had an Open House on January 18 evening at the Mahalaxmi race course where Municipal Commissioner I S Chahal spoke to members about the BMC proposal to take over the major portion of the 221 acres of racecourse land for a public park and co-exist with racing. The proposal cited 120 acres for the BMC public garden and 91 acres as a racecourse area.
At the interactive session of the meet, former RWITC chairman, Zavaray Poonawalla, from the Poonawalla family, piqued interest as he told the Commissioner, “If it's only about making a garden and maintaining it, the Poonawallas are ready and willing to make a public park at the Mahalaxmi racecourse.” Amongst other points that Z Poonawalla made on other proposals of BMC, he said, “The family along with the RWITC and the BMC is ready to make and maintain a public park, accessible to all. We already maintain a public park, Gool Poonawalla Garden in Salisbury Park, Pune and we can do one here too.”
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The Gool Poonawalla Garden at Salisbury Park, Pune
Zavaray Poonwalla or ZSP as he is known, said as the Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) concluded on Tuesday evening, where members had to vote (virtually) on the BMC proposal, that, “If they do want a public park, at the racecourse, we, the family can make and maintain one so that the proposed inside of the racecourse can remain with the RWITC, dedicated for a park which can also accommodate Amateur Riders Club (ARC) and polo sport which the general public enjoy watching free of cost. We are passionate about horses and the race course and willing to do this for our dear club. The racecourse is already a public park in a sense since thousands use it for walking, jogging, yoga, football, aeromodelling… the list is long,” he ended.
Poll call by members
A majority of The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) members voted in favour of the BMC’s proposal for a public garden/theme park inside the racecourse premises, amongst other proposals in an Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) held at the club, on Tuesday evening. The voting was conducted virtually beginning January 27 and ended yesterday. There were 708 members who cast their votes—out of that 540 voted in favour of the proposal while there were 168 who voted against it. The number of members eligible to vote was 1718.
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