Mumbai: Shiv Sena and BMC rarely think beyond Worli, claims Opposition

In Worli itrsquos raining projects The BMC has been showering disproportionate love on this south Mumbai pocket the constituency of state minister and chief ministerrsquos son Aaditya Thackeray prompting the opposition to urge the civic body to pay equal attention to other wards in the city In the latest instance four new tenders worth crores have been issued to beautify Worli apart from two ongoing onesIn the last financial year G south ward which includes Worli and Prabhadevi received over Rs 15 crore for such projects while M east ward comprising Deonar and Mankhurd got less than Rs 9 croreWorli is the constituency of Aaditya ThackerayThe new set of beautification tenders includes the development of the promenade around Mahalaxmi Race Course at an estimated Rs 628 crore The second tender is for Ghoda Dabkal Ground at Worli Koliwada R149 crore Under the third project the corporation will install aesthetically appealing and userfriendly BEST bus stops while the tender is about mechanical sweeping machines at Worlirsquos Jambori Maidan and the race course cycle tracks for Rs 22 lakhBMC officials said one of the projects also covers the nearby Mahalaxmi ldquoThe BMC will develop a cycle track around the Race Course and also construct a viewing deck This project includes beautification of Mahalaxmi railway station areardquo said an official Under the project the BMC will develop a space for kabaddi and khokho and also provide facilities for multiple sports This project will be provided by the state government as the local fundA computergenerated image of Worlirsquos Ghoda Dabkal Ground where beautification work will start soonSince last year the BMC has started many beautification projects for Worli The beautification of Jambori Maidan was completed recently and it cost Rs 150 croremdashhalf the amount came from the state governmentThe BMC has started work to give a facelift to the Worli fort at Rs 2 crore More projects are in the pipeline for Worlimdasha proposed lsquoBeach Walkrsquo between Nariman Bhat jetty at Worli Koliwada to P Balu beachfront Prabhadevi These are other than the regular beautification projectsldquoWorli Worli Worli The BMC and the Shiv Sena feel that Worli is the whole Mumbai They need to come out of Mumbai Most of the population of Mumbai lives in the suburbs But Shiv Senarsquos attention does not go beyond Worli as this is the constituency of minister Aaditya Thackeray This is an injustice to the rest of Mumbairdquo said BJP spokesperson Bhalchandra Shirsat ldquoAs Aaditya Thackeray is also the suburban guardian minister we hope he will come out of Worli and work for the suburbsrdquoMNS leader Nayan Kadam also slammed the Sena ldquoShiv Sena never thinks beyond Worli and the island city In the suburbs Adivasi padas are still struggling for basic amenities like water and toilets Charkop is one of the planned areas but the residents of this area have faced water scarcity for ages Gorai island doesnrsquot have basic amenities Now Shiv Sena is also ruling the state will they give justice to the residents of the suburbsrdquoFormer Sena corporator from Jogeshwari West Rajul Patel countered the allegations ldquoIf development work is going on in Worli then the opposition should not be jealous Aaditya Thackeray has also started various projects for suburbs as the guardian ministerrdquo He added ldquoWhen BJP was in power in the state they also had an opportunity But they could not use that opportunityrdquoRs 15crWorth of projects that went to Worli Prabhadevi in 202122Rs 9crCost of projects for MankhurdDeonar in 202122