Lata Mangeshkar

Mumbai, Dec. 6: Raj Thackeray today warned Maharashtra’s Congress-NCP government that his party wouldn’t allow any flyover to be built if a similar bridge planned at Peddar Road 16 years ago is scrapped because of opposition from a “handful of influential” residents, including Lata Mangeshkar.

The comments echoed the sentiment of many Mumbaikars and came months before the February civic polls.

Recent statements attributed to Jayant Patil, the NCP guardian minister for Mumbai, suggested the government planned to scrap the Peddar Road flyover. Patil himself stays in the area, as do party colleagues Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel. Antilia, Mukesh Ambani’s billion-dollar home, is located in the vicinity.

Singers Lata and Asha Bhosle have been among the most vocal in opposing the project. Five years ago, Lata had threatened to leave Mumbai if the plan went ahead, drawing criticism from several Mumbaikars.

The flyover aims to decongest a major artery linking central Mumbai to the business and power hub in the south.

The government has held public hearings with the residents’ association, which claims the flyover will increase air and noise pollution.

Raj accused the government of giving them “preferential treatment”. “Only because the Peddar Road residents are opposing the project, the government held public discussions with them. Such an opportunity is not being given to residents of other areas.”

He pointed out that the residents of other areas had not demurred when the government pushed through big projects, such as the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mumbai Metro and Monorail.

“Thousands of shops were demolished and homes relocated. Some flyovers pass the homes of ordinary citizens barely 3 to 5 meters away. But Peddar Road residents are being given preferential treatment. Because they disapprove, there are talks of scrapping it altogether.”

Asked if he would persuade Lata’s family, Raj said: “The Peddar Road residents are merely using the Mangeshkar name as a front for their agenda. How can the sound of a statement made by the Mangeshkars years ago still echo.”

Raj’s outburst came hours after some MLAs of his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) met chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and submitted a memorandum saying the project should not be scrapped only to placate a “handful of influential people”.

“If the government is scrapping the Peddar Road flyover, which will benefit all Mumbai citizens, only because a handful people may face inconvenience, this will stunt the state’s development. This is discrimination between the rich and the poor,” the memorandum said.

Chavan denied the flyover was being junked, as did state officials. “No decision has been taken on scrapping the flyover yet. Public hearings are on,” he told the MNS delegation.

At the last hearing in July, representatives of the Peddar Road Residents’ Association were shouted down by a mob which stormed the meeting and chanted slogans for the flyover. Lata’s family wasn’t available for comment today, nor was association representative Veena Singhal.