Bombay Gymkhana vs BMC: Heritage Committee could save the SoBo club land

Bombay Gymkhana may yet have the last laugh. After receiving a letter from the Gymkhana, the BMC’s heritage committee has flagged certain issues in the widening of Hazarimal Somani Marg, among them: the existence of other heritage structures on the same road and the possible loss of green cover on the road. Since the entire area is Fort’s heritage precinct, the municipal corporation will now need to address these concerns before going ahead.

The move comes as a respite to the Gymkhana authorities, who were otherwise considering moving the court. Mumbai Mirror had previously reported how the Gymkhana authorities were not ready to part with their land and had instead decided to take it to the court.

The Gymkhana, which had written the letter on September 2, received no response from the committee. It had also not got an official intimation from the collector, nor had the municipal commissioner taken a decision to shift the hawkers from where the Gymkhana’s parking lot now stands.

The letter was discussed in the committee’s meeting on October 4. The committee on Thursday wrote to the BMC’s roads department as well and the concerned ‘A’ ward flagging the concerns, saying that the Gymkhana was a grade IIB-listed heritage structure and it was proposed to be upgraded to IIA.

The committee has also asked for the departments’ opinion on whether the Gymkhana authorities can be given a hearing, since they had asked for one.

The departments can either submit a plan or submit a written reply with their remarks. Only the municipal commissioner can overrule the committee by recording his observations. As per a 1995 government directive, the BMC is expected to take the heritage committee’s opinion into consideration when it comes to developmental projects.

“We haven’t gotten the letter yet. Only, when we see it will we be able to comment,” said a roads department official. Committee Chairman Ramanath Jha was unavailable for comment.