'Save Jogger's Park': Over 250 Residents Join Signature Drive Against Pay-And-Park Scheme

Bandra residents on Monday, July 30, participated in a signature campaign undertaken by BJP MLA Ashish Shelar against the pay-and-park scheme outside Jogger's Park.

The 'Save Jogger's Park Group' formed by the local residents has demanded to remove the scheme.  More than 250 people signed during the drive to express their opposition to the pay and park.

The local citizens used to park their vehicles for free of cost right in front of Jogger's park in the open space. However, now the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has awarded a contract for on-street pay and park facility, and those parking vehicles on the road near Joggers Park are now being charged a fee.

In a series of tweets, Shelar said: “I OPPOSE BMC's Pay n Park facility started at Bandra Joggers Park, which is putting burden on citizens visiting Joggers Park. Appeal to all citizens to join my signature campaign & sign the petition addressed to BMC Commissioner to SCRAP the Pay n Park! Will follow up with BMC to ensure Justice is Done!”

वांद्रे जॉगर्स पार्क येथे महापालिकेकडून सुरुवात करण्यात येत असलेल्या 'पे अँड पार्क' ला आमचा विरोध असून त्याबद्दलचे निवेदन महापालिका आयुक्तांना आम्ही देणार आहोत. स्थानिक रहिवाशांसह पार्कमध्ये येणाऱ्यांचा हा विरोध थेट पालिके पर्यंत पोहचावा म्हणून आम्ही आज स्वाक्षरी मोहीम राबवली… pic.twitter.com/fM5Bgi0LaT

— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) July 30, 2024

I OPPOSE BMC's Pay n Park facility started at Bandra Joggers Park ,which is putting burden on citizens visiting Joggers Park
Appeal to all citizens to join my signature campaign & sign the petition addressed to BMC Commissioner to SCRAP the Pay n Park !
Will follow with BMC to… pic.twitter.com/uBdpTbZeCy

— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) July 30, 2024

“We are against the 'Pay and Park' being started by the Municipal Corporation at Bandra Joggers Park and we will give a statement to the Municipal Commissioner. Today, we conducted a signature campaign to bring this protest of people coming to the park with local residents directly to the municipality, and it got a spontaneous response from the citizens,” he added.

Meanwhile, responding to the criticism, a BMC official said that the pay-and-park scheme on one side of the road is being implemented for the benefit of citizens and to bring discipline to the road.

It is pertinent to note that a large number of morning walkers, joggers, and families, especially from Bandra, Khar, and Santacruz, visit the park.