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Furious over residential-commercial tag for Pali Hill, residents say it’ll wreck its ‘sanctity’

Draft development plan 2034 for Mumbai was released by the BMC in February this year.

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The controversial draft development plan (DP) 2034 has invited the ire of Pali Hill residents who have objected to the area being classified as a residential-commercial (RC) zone in the plan.

Residents fear that new residential-commercial tag will pave way for increased commercial activities in their largely peaceful enclave and disturb its “sanctity”.

Pali Hill area in Bandra is one of the most expensive residential enclaves and is home to many Bollywood stars and business tycoons.

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DP-2034 has introduced a new concept of mixed land-use zones, such as residential-commercial, commercial-residential and industrial zones.

The draft plan was released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in February this year.

Ashok Rang, treasurer, Pali Hill Residential Association, said, “For the last 20 years, we have protected this area from builders. Pali Hill is a quiet area. Why does the BMC want to disturb this area by bringing in commercial activities? Can they address our security concerns in such a scenario?”

BMC’s recent order of allowing hawkers to pitch their stalls in Pali Hill has also not gone down well with the residents. Fearing vested interests acting in favour of commercial development in the area, the residents will be holding a quiet protest this Sunday, Rang said.

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Residents have also objected BMC’s move of creating six new roads cutting across Pali Hill. Most of these roads, residents say, connect to the nearby Shirley Rajan village. Madhu Poplai, secretary of the Pali Hill Residents Association, said, “Since many builders have projects coming up in the Shirley village, BMC is acting in their favour for increased connectivity. We will oppose this move.” Poplai also said that more than 70 trees would have to be cut to make way for the new roads. “Plus the roads are shown cutting across bungalows and gardens. It seems like BMC has never visited the area before creating the plan.”

The plan, which lays down the city’s land-use for the next two decades, has invited ire from residents across the city in the last two months. BMC is currently in the process of receiving suggestions and objections from citizens till April 24.

tanushree.venkatraman@expressindia.com

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