The new benches installed at Five Gardens at Dadar Parsi Colony,
which cost the civic body an arm and a leg have lost their sheen in just
four months. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as a part of
restoration and revamp of the grade-II heritage precinct garden, had
installed benches costing Rs30,000 each in February this year.
The outer coating of the benches in both the gardens has become discoloured. These benches had cast iron arm rests and fibre reinforced plastic seating. The BMC had installed 29 new benches in garden A and 32 benches in garden B. Around 60% of the benches have faded.
“It is completely unacceptable. How can a bench, which cost an exorbitant amount, fade in such a short span? Either the BMC has inflated the original price of benches or they have used a sub-standard quality of benches,” said Nikhil Desai, a resident and member of the F-North Ward Citizens’ Federation.
Assistant municipal commissioner Sanjay Kurhade maintained that the benches are of supreme quality. “These are the same kind of benches which have been installed at Shivaji Park. A reputable company was given the contract for the heritage benches,” he said. “We will probe as to why have the benches have been spoilt,” he added.
The residents of Dadar Parsi Colony had questioned BMC on the high-priced benches. The civic officials had stated that the benches were of superior quality. The market price of these benches is not more than Rs12,000.
The BMC’s revamp work at Five Gardens was carried out after a new master plan was approved by the Maharashtra heritage conservation committee (MHCC). Despite this, the civic body has diverted from the approved plan.
The BMC put extra benches in clusters at sporadic spots in the gardens. These benches, in groups of fours and six, had been put on the track which was meant for jogging and walking, contrary to the sanctioned plan. After persistent follow ups, Desai got the extra benches removed. “We had put extra benches after repeated prodding by the residents,” Kurhade clarified. However, he had no answer why later they were removed.
The outer coating of the benches in both the gardens has become discoloured. These benches had cast iron arm rests and fibre reinforced plastic seating. The BMC had installed 29 new benches in garden A and 32 benches in garden B. Around 60% of the benches have faded.
“It is completely unacceptable. How can a bench, which cost an exorbitant amount, fade in such a short span? Either the BMC has inflated the original price of benches or they have used a sub-standard quality of benches,” said Nikhil Desai, a resident and member of the F-North Ward Citizens’ Federation.
Assistant municipal commissioner Sanjay Kurhade maintained that the benches are of supreme quality. “These are the same kind of benches which have been installed at Shivaji Park. A reputable company was given the contract for the heritage benches,” he said. “We will probe as to why have the benches have been spoilt,” he added.
The residents of Dadar Parsi Colony had questioned BMC on the high-priced benches. The civic officials had stated that the benches were of superior quality. The market price of these benches is not more than Rs12,000.
The BMC’s revamp work at Five Gardens was carried out after a new master plan was approved by the Maharashtra heritage conservation committee (MHCC). Despite this, the civic body has diverted from the approved plan.
The BMC put extra benches in clusters at sporadic spots in the gardens. These benches, in groups of fours and six, had been put on the track which was meant for jogging and walking, contrary to the sanctioned plan. After persistent follow ups, Desai got the extra benches removed. “We had put extra benches after repeated prodding by the residents,” Kurhade clarified. However, he had no answer why later they were removed.
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