BJP’s Makarand Narwekar Urges BMC To Shift Lion Gate ‘Aspirational Toilet’ Underground
Mumbai: BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar has urged BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to relocate the above-ground Lion Gate ‘Aspirational Toilet’ and two adjoining Solid Waste Management (SWM) chowkies underground, citing obstruction to pedestrian movement and the civic body’s ‘Pedestrian First’ policy. Proposed Underground Shift To Free Up Kala Ghoda Footpath Narwekar said the BMC’s earlier…
BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar has called for Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to relocate an above-ground 'Aspirational Toilet' at Kala Ghoda's Lion Gate and two adjoining Solid Waste Management (SWM) chowkies underground. Narwekar argued that the current location hinders pedestrian movement and contradicts the BMC's 'Pedestrian First' policy.
The corporator stated that the BMC's initial proposal for a narrow footpath at the site was never carried out. Moving the structures underground, Narwekar suggested, would free up the Kala Ghoda footpath, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce visual clutter in the heritage area. He recommended retaining only a minimal, aesthetically designed structure above ground.
Narwekar proposed an underground toilet with a wooden-slatted pavilion and an arched, textured roof to blend with the area. The nearby acre-sized pedestrian plaza, currently under development, eliminates space for any visual obstructions, according to the corporator.
These demands come amid scrutiny of Mumbai's 'Aspirational Toilet' project. In July 2025, BJP Mumbai president and MLA Amit Satam raised concerns over alleged irregularities. Following this, Industries Minister Uday Samant ordered a construction halt pending an inquiry. The Lion Gate toilet project reportedly cost Rs. 1.65 crore.
Narwekar has also pointed out the site's location within the UNESCO heritage conservation buffer zone, advocating for heritage-sensitive planning.
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