Allow parking at Shivaji Park during immersion: HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to allow the public to park their vehicles at Shivaji Park in Dadar during immersion of Ganesha idols, though, subject to certain conditions.

A bench led by Justice AS Oka also said once Ganesh Chaturthi is over, the state and BMC must restore the ground to its original state and repair damages that might be caused due to parking of vehicles.

The court also directed the state to form a committee to locate, within two months, an alternative plot of land, other than Shivaji Park ground, for parking of vehicles during this period next year.

The directions came after the state and BMC moved the HC court to seek permission for parking of vehicles at Shivaji Park during immersion of idols.

HC has declared the Shivaji Park ground at Dadar as a ‘silence zone’ and it can be used only for sports activities. The court’s permission is required if the ground is used for cultural or other events.

During the 10-day festival, hundreds of Ganesha idols are immersed into the sea by individual households and the puja mandals.