After a silent protest on April 21 near the Ramakrishna Dhote Hari Udyan opposite Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, they say they still have not received any response from the the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation regarding the proposed construction.

This 5,580-sq meters garden is being maintained by residents since 1992 through individual contributions and corporate funds. The purpose of the parking lot as suggested by the BMC is to provide parking facilities for relatives of patients coming to the hospital and parents of children studying in a school in th area.

Nagesh Kini, one of the residents, said: "When we tried talking to the engineers they said that they are not aware of the technology that was being used to construct the underground parking lot without disturbing the garden. We even asked them to give us design specifications and methodologies but nothing has been provided yet.'' Jayant Majli, another resident, described the proposed car park as 'self defeating'. "The parking area will need an entry as well as an exit, which means a part of the garden will be destroyed. The approach will definitely be from the main road, which will further reduce the width of Veer Savarkar Road, previously known as Cadell Road.

Even the traffic department had objected to the plan because Cadell Road is mainly used for VIP movement," he claimed.

The park has more than 27 trees, some over a 100 years old. It also has a skating rink and home to a meditation centre and separate seating areas for children and senior citizens. Residents point out that Dhote Udyan is adjacent to the seashore and is a very ecologically sensitive spot covered by the Coastal Regulation Zone rules that make clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests necessary. "

However, BMC officials say the technology used will not disturb the surface. Ashok Shintre, Chief Engineer (Development Plan), said: "We have received the objections sent to us by the residents of Mahim and a hearing on the same will be held soon."