Congress Opposes BMC Proposal To Alter Versova Reservations, Warns Of Possible Residential Development On Amenity Land
Mumbai: A BMC proposal to alter reservations on a 4,180-sq-m Versova plot has drawn opposition from Congress, which warned that the move could eventually enable residential development on amenity land. The plot is currently reserved for a municipal chowky and fire station under DP 2034. Congress has demanded that local residents, housing societies and the fire brigade be heard before any…
Mumbai: The Congress party has voiced strong opposition to a proposal by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to alter reservations on a 4,180-sq-m Versova plot. The concern raised is that such a change could potentially pave the way for residential development on amenity land. The land in question is presently reserved for a municipal chowky and a fire station, as per the Development Plan 2034 (DP 2034).
The Congress has urged that local residents, housing societies, and the fire brigade be consulted prior to any decision.
The proposal aims to remove a 2,296-sq-m municipal chowky reservation and a 1,143.16-sq-m fire station reservation, with an additional 740.40 sq m earmarked for incorporation into the residential zone. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi has demanded that the BMC provide an assessment of the impact on Floor Space Index (FSI), Transferable Development Rights (TDR), fungible FSI, saleable area, and market value, along with revealing the identities of the landowner, applicant, and any developer or private beneficiary.
Azmi questioned the wisdom of removing an existing fire station reservation, citing Versova, Seven Bungalows, Lokhandwala, Oshiwara, Four Bungalows, and Andheri West among other areas. The BMC's proposal identifies Seven Bungalows-Ambivali as a site for an alternative fire station facility, but Congress is demanding full details about this proposed replacement, including its ownership and possession status, approvals, construction progress, funding, and anticipated commissioning date.
Furthermore, Congress has called for a fire-risk assessment and an evaluation of emergency response time before any existing Versova reservation is dismantled.
Contrary to the BMC's timeline, Congress alleges that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) had submitted the reservation change request in July 2025. The process was subsequently advanced in January 2026, with the Section 37(1) route under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act being adopted in April 2026.
Congress has urged for a special hearing with the residents, housing societies, and the fire brigade. Ashraf Azmi concluded by asserting that they would prefer to see the construction of the alternative fire station completed before contemplating any changes to the current reservations.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
