Mumbai student launches petition to turn spots over BEST bus depots’ parking into sports grounds

An illustration of a playing field atop a bus depot, accompanying Dujodwala`s petition

Signatures are clocking in steadily for Abhibhav Dujodwala's petition on change.org to utilise the space above bus depots in the city as sports/recreation grounds. Dujodwala, a footballer, started this petition on June 18. It has had a good response in a few days, said the 16-year-old student as he counted over 1,500 signatures.

Abhibhav Dujodwala says the BEST can generate revenue by commercialising the space above its parking levels

Excerpts from The Cathedral & John Connon school Std XI student's petition accompanied by a video presentation said, "In 2021, the city still has very little open space to offer its current 20,668,000 population - just over 1 sqm per person! Imagine what can be done above the 8,54,695 sqm that BEST's 29 depots cover, to change that!

"Mumbaikars are left to walk and play in their parking lots and on the streets. Grounds are not operational during the monsoon, and over booked during wedding season making their availability even more scarce."

The petition cited reports stating that the BEST Undertaking was staring at financial losses. This could be a big earner for the BEST. Dujodwala's petition said the 29 bus depots' space from Colaba to Vashi, is equivalent to 800-900 cricket nets or 17 football fields (international size). With a potential minimum 12-hours a day availability, that gives over 5,00,000 people access to all year-round, high-quality multipurpose facilities.

"A self-sustainable business model can be built, to modernise these bus depots. A concrete grid structure constructed in and around the depots would allow for a few levels of parking space, and elevated roof-level, multipurpose sports and recreation facilities. These can be sub-leased to educational institutions, sports clubs and others, as well as serve as public recreational spaces at reasonable rates. BEST can generate revenue from this," he said.

Launch pad

Dujodwala said a vantage point view of the sprawling Colaba bus depot some time ago, was his stop-thinking-start-doing moment. "I was awe struck by the space these depots had and decided to start a petition. Some people told me this space could be given to builders for commercial/residential projects. Yet, why have more buildings? More shrinkage of space? This will also be an avenue for sustainable income, we need to push for more recreational facilities."

Speak out

Komal Dujodwala, Abhibhav's mother, looking at the petition through a broader lens said, "We need to encourage Mumbaikars and concerned Indian citizens to speak up and engage in shaping the petition's outcome, being heard by and encouraging those decision makers, who have the leverage to see that this comes to fruition. We want to create a massive nationwide movement in making these spaces available for every resident's physical and mental well-being."

Having said that, the Dujodwalas are realistic enough to realise that a petition may not bring the change. "We have had people tell us that petitions have garnered signatures in lakhs at times, but have not got intended results." Yet, said the duo on an upbeat note, "This is one way to be heard. Collective voices are better than one, and of course, even better than none."

Up and above

See the petition to ‘level up' and ‘green' the BEST ‘garage' and make every sqm count by building sports and other recreation facilities atop BEST depots. Check link: https://chng.it/cYTqW5rKyN