Over a year since his death, various proposals to name landmarks after the former Sena chief have been brought before the BMC. Here is a round-up.
Over a year since the death of former Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, half-a-dozen proposals to name roads, hospitals, gardens – and even the city’s entry points – have been brought before the BMC. While it has already approved some, others are in the pipeline.
Trauma care hospital
The BMC has already named a trauma care hospital near the Western Express Highway at Jogeshwari after Thackeray. Inaugurated in October last year, the hospital is called Hinduhridyasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital. The 13-storey hospital with 304 beds was built by the BMC at a cost of Rs 125 crore to cater to accident victims, but also reserves beds for general patients.
Health university
Rahul Shewale, chairman of the Standing Committee, has demanded that the BMC’s proposed health university at Lokmanya Tilak Hospital be named after Thackeray. “It was Balasaheb who first mooted the idea of having a health university run by the BMC. Since it was his idea, we have demanded that it be named after him,” Shewale said.
BKC-Kurla Road
The BMC’s group leaders have passed a proposal to name the road connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex to Kurla after the late Sena leader. The proposal was mooted by Shiv Sena legislator Ravindra Waikar. Once the proposal is formally approved by the local ward committee, the road will be called Hinduhrydaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marg.
Mayor Sunil Prabhu said, “Balasheb used to live in Kalanagar, right next to BKC. There are a lot of commercial and government establishments in the area, and the road will get a new identity once it is named after Balasaheb. Legislator Waikar had written to me, demanding that the road be named after the late Sena chief, citing his contribution to the city’s political, social and cultural spheres. Thus, the group leaders approved the proposal.”
Eastern Freeway
While most naming proposals are from the Shiv Sena, its arch rival, Raj Thackeray’s MNS, has its own set of demands. Last year, the MNS had demanded that the newly opened Eastern Freeway be named after Thackeray. MNS legislator Bala Nandgaonkar had written a letter about this to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
City’s entry points
Fromer mayor Datta Dalvi has proposed that all five entry points into Mumbai, like the check nakas at Mulund on the Eastern Express highway and Dahisar on the Western Express Highway, be named after Thackeray. The proposal was submitted last year to the BMC’s group leaders, who are yet to take a call on it. “It suggests that all the entry points be named after Thackeray,” said a civic official.
Powai nature park
Another proposal waiting to be approved one that seeks to name a park along Powai Lake after Thackeray. It also suggests that 20 stone structures with a selection of Thackeray’s cartoons be erected at the site. Sena leaders have also demanded that facilities that are yet to be build in the park (nature trail, bird enclosures, info kiosk) also sport Thackeray’s name.
Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/civic/Thackeray-city/articleshow/29514065.cms