Maharashtra PWD (excluding public enterprises) minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said that all pay and parks below flyovers in Mumbai would be shut by May this year.
He informed the legislative council that MSRDC has initiated criminal action against people who are operating illegal pay and parks below flyovers in the city.
Replying to a question asked by NCP legislator Sandeep Bajoria, Mr Shinde admitted that the state government had decided in June 2008 to shut all pay and parks below flyovers due to security concerns.
“It was decided that contracts of nine pay and parks that had expired on July 25, 2011 would not be renewed. The remaining 12 contractors were also given notices to stop operating even before expiry of their contracts. Seven of them have been closed and action is being taken against the rest,” Mr Shinde said.
The minister further informed that the MSRDC has lodged an FIR at Vikhroli police station against a contractor operating pay and park below the CST-Kurla flyover. “Similarly, the MSRDC has written to the concerned police stations to register cases against the remaining four contractors,” he said.
The Bombay high court on February 8 had directed the state government and other statutory agencies to remove illegal parking from under the flyovers in Mumbai within three months as per earlier orders restricting such parking owing to security reasons. The court is hearing a PIL that pointed out to the court that though parking was not allowed under several flyovers, not only was the rule flouted, but some also had “pay and park” schemes.
“The MSRDC has already swung into action,” Mr Shinde said.
When Mr Bajoria said that pay and parks under flyovers, which Mr Shinde claims to have closed, were still operational, the minister assured that action would be taken against contractors.
