Mumbai: More than one-and-a-half years after Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar ordered a stay on the Rs 122 crore Mumbadevi robotic parking tower project, the contractor issued a legal notice to the BMC, invoking the arbitration clause and seeking Rs 55 crore in damages from the BMC. The contractor cited an unreasonable stoppage of work without any stated reason for the claim. Officials from the BMC said it is likely that the BMC may have to bear the brunt and pay damages from its coffers. Narwekar’s stay order stalled the project since July 2024.BMC officials said work on the partly constructed 17-storey robotic parking tower, which can accommodate 600 vehicles, stalled since the stay was issued by Narwekar in the legislative assembly in July 2024. The contractor, M/s SMS Limited, through its lawyer Sandesh Deshpande, cited unreasonable stoppage of work without justification. “We already wrote to the state govt stating that there are no irregularities in the project and warning that the BMC should not be held responsible for rising costs. However, we did not receive any instruction from the state govt so far,” a senior official said.Opposing the tower, Narwekar had cited concerns from locals that it would harm the aesthetics and heritage of the iconic Mumbadevi temple. Narwekar said the project raised questions of faith, devotion, and feasibility, as it could obstruct the temple’s view. “If any damages are paid, then they should be paid by the then Municipal Commissioner, who sanctioned the project without taking locals into confidence. Money should be recovered from concerned officials,” Narwekar said.In Jan 2025, the state UD department asked Narwekar to decide on the matter after Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani warned of cost escalation if delays continued. “However, we did not receive any instruction on the matter,” said a senior BMC official.Local trade associations, such as the Mumbai Wholesale Gold Jewellers Association, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council, and the India Bullion and Jewellers Association demanded the parking tower be started soon.
