Residents oppose guidelines on Marine Drive precinct redevelopment

The guidelines say buildings within a sub-precinct will have to roughly maintain existing height even after redevelopment to prevent change in its character. Parking can be created only in basements,glass windows must be encased in wooden frames,balconies of Art Deco buildings must be left open and road widening is prohibited.

However,exemptions to buildings such as Ambassador Hotel and International Students Hostel have angered residents.

“The committee has made random exemptions. Even with incentives,the guidelines are impractical. If buildings in other parts of the precinct can be redevelop,we want that option too,” said Kawal Shahipuri,joint director of Marine Drive Residents Association.

As most buildings in the precinct are over 75 years old,maintenance cost is high.

“Every year,each flat spends over Rs 1.2 lakh on maintenance and repairs. For the third time in 2012,my building was re-plastered and we have found more problem areas. How many more years can we keep this up? The brickwork is weakening,” Shahipuri said.

Residents are also opposed to curbs on redeveloping buildings with stilt parking.

“We have major road congestion caused by double parking. This is worsened by the proximity of Wankhede Stadium. In the event of a fire,fire engines find it difficult to access the building,” said Mahendra Hemdev,resident of a building on B Road in Gymkhana precinct.

MHCC chairman V Ranganathan said,“We have created sub-precincts to maintain character and homogenity of the area. Parking in basements of buildings should ease congestion. Residents can renovate interiors of buildings in such a way to allow more parking so long as facades are maintained. Allowing road-widening would mean breaking building walls which will ruin the heritage value of the well-planned precinct.”

Shahipuri countered: “What is the point of maintaining beauty when there is no utility to it.”