Kamathipura Group Opposes BMC Plan to Rezone Byculla Theatre Plot
The Kamathipura development committee on Tuesday submitted a letter to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief Ashwini Bhide, opposing a civic proposal to remove the cinema and entertainment reservation of a 1,005-square-metre plot in Byculla. The site currently houses the defunct, century-old Alexandra Theatre.
The BMC is scheduled to move the proposal on Wednesday before its improvements committee, seeking to convert the Byculla land from its existing entertainment designation to residential use.
According to the civic administration's proposal, running the theatre is no longer economically viable. The BMC noted that the century-old facility has remained closed since 2007, citing the current physical condition of the premises and shifting commercial trends in the entertainment sector.
The local development committee strongly contested this move, urging the civic administration not to alter the site's reservation under any circumstances. In its appeal, the committee highlighted that the plot represents one of the few remaining recreational amenities in the local area.
The push to protect civic amenities comes as the state government, acting through MHADA, undertakes a major group redevelopment project spanning approximately 34 acres in Kamathipura. The committee stated that this redevelopment will substantially alter the neighbourhood and have a significant impact on available public and recreational facilities, making the preservation of reserved land vital for residents.
The proposal for the Byculla site is part of a broader pattern of proposed land-use alterations across Mumbai. Another site facing changes is a 3,439-square-metre plot in Versova, which was originally designated for a fire station and a civic post.
These rezoning measures appear at odds with recent assertions by Minister Ashish Shelar, who stated that a land parcel's original reservation cannot be altered merely to suit a particular use. Despite this, civic proposals for altering land designations across multiple city sites continue to move forward.
