Mumbai: The BMC body of corporators on Thursday approved, by a majority, the proposal to transfer the land of the BEST Dharavi bus depot for the Dharavi redevelopment project.However, opposition parties strongly opposed the move and demanded that the proposal be sent back to the administration for reconsideration. Their amendment was rejected, and the original proposal was passed.The Dharavi bus depot spans 11.58 acres, of which 2.35 acres belong to the BEST undertaking, while the remaining land falls under the jurisdiction of the District Collector. The land will be transferred for the Dharavi redevelopment project and handed over to Navbharat Megha Developers Pvt Ltd.During the discussion, Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi opposed the proposal and moved an amendment seeking its reconsideration by the administration. “The administration cannot bring such a proposal without considering all facts. This is public land and cannot be given for a project as such. Already the condition of BEST is on the decline and such moves further deteriorate the condition of BEST.”Congress corporator Asha Kale questioned where BEST would acquire land for a new depot if it required one in the future. She described the decision as a “raid on BEST’s valuable assets.” Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Sachin Padwal also opposed the proposal.On the other hand, BJP corporators Siddharth Sharma and Pravin Chheda, Shiv Sena (Shinde) corporator Trishna Vishwasrao, and Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar supported the proposal.They pointed out that several BEST bus depots had already been redeveloped under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. They also stated that the developer would not only construct a new bus depot at Dharavi but would also be responsible for its operation and maintenance for the next 10 years.Following an extended debate, the General Body rejected the opposition’s amendment and approved the original proposal by a majority, clearing the way for the transfer of the BEST depot land for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.BEST, on June 2 cleared a proposal to transfer bus depots at Dharavi and Kalakilla for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots are constructed on a plot of 11.58 acres. Sources said that in the last week of April, NMDPL submitted a draft proposal for temporary and permanent arrangement for bus depots
