Mumbai: Amid complaints by locals of traffic congestion, BMC’s hydraulic engineering department is considering allowing a pay-and-park facility on a portion of a cycle track on Flank Road in Sion opposite Shanmukhanand Hall.The proposal is yet to get the approval of the civic administration, including those of the deputy municipal commissioner (special engineering) and the additional commissioner (projects). The track has been largely unused by cyclists.Fed up with logjams near Shanmukhanand Hall and Gandhi market area, Sion residents have for long been demanding a solution. The F-North ward office had approached the hydraulic engineering department seeking implementation of a pay-and-park facility. The hydraulic engineering department owns the cycle track land as two trunk main water pipelines pass below it.The department pointed out that unauthorised shanties and vegetable and fruit vendors often take over the plot despite the ward office taking action against the encroachers. Pushing for a permanent solution to the issue of encroachment and misuse of the cycle track, it recommended a 331m long and 10m wide pay-and-park facility on the cycle track. As per the department’s guidelines, no permanent structures are allowed on the alignment of main water pipelines.“We don’t have an objection to implementing the pay-and-park facility. However, the BMC administration has to approve the proposal, and it has to be implemented by the traffic department and the ward office,” said a civic official.Sion resident Payal Shah, who pursued BMC for the parking service, said if the facility is implemented, it’ll spell a big relief to locals. “Residents have been following up constantly for the pay-and-park facility. Many visitors come to Shanmukhanand Hall, which has a seating capacity of about 2,700. Besides, there are those visiting the municipal market. The response from the administration to the parking facility proposal seems to be positive,” she said.
