Sena seeks park at racecourse as lease ends

The primary concern of the party,he said,was to make the most of the expired lease to develop the 8.5 lakh-square-metre open space into the ninth wonder of the world accessible to all Indians. “Let us develop the open space beautifully to put it on world map.”

The Sena-led BMC will send a formal proposal in this regard to the state government next week and a presentation on the theme park will be made before CM Prithviraj Chavan.

CM is still to take a decision whether to extend the lease or not.A senior officer in CMO said,“In the absence of a decision activities,including horse racing,will continue.” State cabinet ministers,who belong to Congress and NCP,are against any development at the racecourse.

Of the total 8.5 lakh square metres around the racecourse,almost 6 lakh square metres belong to the state urban development and the remaining to BMC.

Congress-NCP leader said any development would ruin identity and heritage of the open space.

Uddhav countered,“Sena wants a park,not residential towers. Do you want horses to be the identity of Mumbai? In any case,how many people are associated with horse races? It (the racecourse) caters to the elite at the cost of a majority of Mumbaikars.

“The government should not miss this opportunity as the racecourse lease has expired after 99 years. If we fail to take a concrete decision,we will lose an opportunity to open up an open space for the public.”

The Sena leader cautioned the government against politicising the matter. “The state government and BMC can together work on the project.”Ally BJP supported the Sena proposal.

Leader of opposition in the state council Vinod Tawde said,“Horse racing should be shifted outside Mumbai.”

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com