According to Velankar, many residents remain unaware of the project’s scope and its potential impact on the locality. He stated that detailed documents related to the project have not been made easily accessible, limiting meaningful public participation. He has called upon the civic body to upload all relevant information on its official website before moving ahead with the process.
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The Bharat Mandapam project, inspired by a similar convention complex in Delhi, was proposed by the PMC following a request from BJP MLA Sunil Kamble in August 2024. The proposal was later reviewed at the state level, after which the civic body was instructed to formally submit the plan.
The identified land in Lohegaon, falling under survey numbers 236 and 238, is currently reserved in the development plan for public amenities such as a garden, sports facilities, a hospital, a vegetable market, waterworks, and other civic utilities. Since the project requires a change in these reservations, the PMC was directed to invite public objections and suggestions.
While the state government has approved the proposal in principle and clarified that a minimum of 30 acres would be required for implementation, Velankar has stressed that transparency and wider public consultation are essential. He warned that without proper disclosure, the objection process would be reduced to a formality rather than a meaningful democratic exercise.
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