Cops, BMC pass Gymkhana parking buck

Even as the members of South Mumbai’s elite Bombay Gymkhana continue to park their vehicles at the plot outside the club, the lease for which expired in July this year, the authorities that should be restricting the parking could be seen passing the buck on each other. The traffic police, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Collector want to absolve themselves of the responsibility to act against the property involving the club.

In September this year, the Azad Maidan traffic police had sought to know from the BMC whether they could take action against the vehicles parked in the disputed area. However, instead of responding to the traffic police, the BMC would forward them a letter they received from Mumbai collector Ashwini Joshi on Thursday. The letter confirms that the gymkhana’s lease of this plot on M.G. road expired in July and it now belongs to the government. Any action can be taken only after permission from the concerned authorities.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh said, “Yes, we have received a letter from the Mumbai collector stating that the lease of the plot has expired. We will forward it to the traffic police so that they can decide on the future course of action.”

Darius Udwadia, President of Bombay Gymkhana said, “I am not aware of this issue. I am yet to receive any information. We will see what to do once we receive official intimation.”