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Congress Challenges BMC Plan To Alter Versova Land Reservations
The BMC wants to change how a plot of land in Versova can be used.
The land is currently reserved for a municipal chowky and a fire station.
Congress opposes removing these reservations.
It says the change could make residential construction possible on land meant for public facilities.
The BMC has identified Seven Bungalows–Ambivali for another fire station.
Congress wants that replacement facility built first.
It also wants residents, housing societies and the fire brigade to be heard.
The party is asking for information about the land, its development potential and the proposed fire station.
The BMC proposed changing reservations covering 4,179.56 square metres of land in Versova.
The plan would remove reservations for a 2,296-square-metre municipal chowky and a 1,143.16-square-metre fire station.
Another 740.40 square metres would reportedly be merged into the residential zone.
Congress warned the changes could increase development potential and eventually enable residential construction on amenity land.
Congress demanded public hearings and details about the proposed alternative fire station at Seven Bungalows–Ambivali before any change.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation proposed the changes, while Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi led opposition; MHADA had sought the reservation changes.
- What
- A proposal would remove or alter reservations covering 4,179.56 square metres in Versova, including land reserved for a municipal chowky and fire station.
- Where
- Versova, Mumbai, with a proposed alternative fire station at Seven Bungalows–Ambivali.
- When
- MHADA reportedly sought the changes in July 2025; the process moved forward in January 2026, with the Section 37(1) route selected in April 2026.
- Why
- The BMC proposal seeks to alter existing reservations, while Congress wants assurances that public amenities and fire-response capacity will not be weakened and that residential development will not result.
Congress Opposition
BMC Proposal
Changing public-facility reservations
Congress Opposition
Congress says removing the existing chowky and fire station reservations could increase development potential and eventually enable residential development on amenity land.
BMC Proposal
The BMC proposal seeks to remove the existing reservations and merge part of the plot into the residential zone.
Fire-station replacement
Congress Opposition
Congress says the existing Versova reservation should not be deleted until the proposed Seven Bungalows–Ambivali replacement is operational, and it wants a fire-risk and emergency-response assessment.
BMC Proposal
The proposal identifies Seven Bungalows–Ambivali for an alternative fire facility, but the article does not provide details about its construction or commissioning.
Public consultation and disclosure
Congress Opposition
Congress wants residents, housing societies and the fire brigade heard, along with disclosure of impacts on FSI, TDR, fungible FSI, saleable area and market value.
BMC Proposal
The BMC has advanced the reservation-change process under Section 37(1), but the article does not state that the requested special hearing or disclosures have occurred.
Key facts
- Total area affected
- 4,179.56 square metres
- Municipal chowky reservation
- 2,296 square metres
- Fire station reservation
- 1,143.16 square metres
- Proposed residential-zone merger
- 740.40 square metres
- Proposed alternative facility
- Fire station at Seven Bungalows–Ambivali
- Planning procedure
- Section 37(1) route under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act
- Congress demand
- Build the alternative fire station and hold a special hearing before changing the reservation
Quotes
Ashraf Azmi
Congress group leader who opposed the proposed alteration of the Versova land reservations
“First build the alternative fire station; then discuss changing the reservation”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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