Marine Drive gym installation: Political slugfest continues over open-air gym at Marine Drive

The multi-purpose fitness ensemble is touted as Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray’s pet project, involving film actor Dino Morea. The branding on the installation displays details of the actor’s gymnasium company. The political parties are, however, not impressed, with the NCP even threatening to get the structure removed. The Congress, meanwhile, has dug an old correspondence between former MP Milind Deora and Kunte on a similar open-air gymnasium that was not allowed. According to the letter, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, Kunte wrote to the former MP that “…no temporary/permanent structure is allowed on the road/footpath. Hence it is regretted that NOC (no-objection certificate) for erection of open fitness station at Marine Drive promenade or NS Road (Netaji Subhashchandra Bose) stretch cannot be issued”.

Former Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar was also shocked to read about Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray inaugurating two fitness stations on the heritage precinct in the newspapers on Thursday morning. According to Shekhar, he, along with his mother and former Congress MLA Annie Shekhar, had requested BMC officials to install the station. “I saw an open-air gym in New York and was really intrigued.

It was my idea to install the fitness station on the promenade. Despite several letters and reminders to officials, I never got the permission. I am now going to demand an inquiry into the matter,” said the former corporator from Colaba.

On Thursday, one of the ensembles was dismantled by C-ward civic officials who were on a routine visit to the promenade. Little did the officials then expect that they would soon receive a call from the municipal commissioner’s office to re-install the gymnasium stating that it had the requisite permissions.

A day later, however, C-ward official Sangeeta Hasnale wrote to the deputy municipal commissioner that Dino Morea’s company had got permissions for installing a gymnasium for A-ward alone. The two gymnasiums have been installed opposite the Kapur Mahal in A-ward and Hindu Gymkhana in C-ward. Hasnale has also demanded that the firm should take necessary permissions from C-ward within the next seven days. The vast 4.3 km boulevard falls under different administrative divisions of Greater Mumbai.

Lashing out at the administration,Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said, “The officials are scared of the Shiv Sena and are refusing to take any legal action. If the gym is unauthorised then it should be dismantled immediately. How can the corporation deny permission to one party and give the same permission to Sena?”

Sena leaders have, however, laughed off the allegations. Trushna Vishwasrao, leader of the House in BMC, said, “Sena had sought permission for installing four gymnasiums on the promenade. The municipal commissioner, however, gave us permission to install two anywhere on the stretch, except opposite Oberoi Hotel. We have followed the instructions. Is it our fault that we were not given specific locations by the commissioner? As far as Congress is concerned, it was Aaditya Thackeray’s idea to install open-air gymnasium in the city, Congress does not even have enough volunteers to implement the schemes.”

Vishwasrao also said Sena leaders were ready to accept NCP leader Nitesh Rane’s challenge. On Friday, the leader met Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to take action against the gymnasium if it did not have permissions. Rane also made statements saying he would remove it himself if the BMC failed to do its job.

According to sources from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), the committee has given permission to the firm to install the two gymnasiums on a pilot basis. When asked about the Congress’ demand, MHCC Chairman V Ranganathan said, “We are not aware of any such demand made in 2013.”

While Kunte and Deora could not be reached, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “I have asked for a report from Additional Municipal Commissioner Pallavi Darade regarding the permissions and it is likely to be submitted tomorrow. I can only comment after that.” Mehta had ordered an inquiry into the C-ward officials’ actions on Thursday.