Mumbai: Metro eats up one-third of multi-faith crematorium

The unique endeavour to convert a regular crematorium at Worli into an aesthetically designed newage facility had to be watered down as a Metro 3 site occupies 30 per cent of the projectrsquos area on which green spaces walkways and parking areas were to come up Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Smashan Bhumi however has been set up on the land available and the trust concerned is ready to hand over the space to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC by December 30In 2019 the Antim Sanskar Seva organisation part of the Hiralal Parekh Parivar Charity Trust signed a memorandum of understanding with the BMC to redevelop the Worli crematorium on Dr E Moses Road entirely through Corporate Social Responsibility CSR funding Troubled by the derelict conditions of many of the cityrsquos crematoria the trust aimed to create a facility that offers privacy and dignity to the deceasedSalient featuresThe project was worth Rs 40 crore and the plan comprised eight enclosed cremation pavilions spread over a carpet area of 75000 sq ft four prayer halls a large common waiting lounge rooms for administrative facilities space for storage amenities and support services The plan also included a large car park a courtyard open to green spaces and walkways for visitors After four years the eight enclosed pavilions are readyldquoThirty per cent of the project had to be scrapped because of the Metro 3 Support facilities such as green spaces walkways parking areas and the entire courtyard had to be droppedrdquo said a person in the know on the condition of anonymity Dr Ramnik Parekh of the Hiralal Parekh Parivar Charity Trust said the project was ready and would be handed over to the BMC soon He added ldquoWe started the project to offer a dignified place for cremation and as it is now finished I would like to thank all the donors and the BMC for their supportrdquoRahul Mehrotra of RMA Architects which designed the new crematorium said it was unfortunate that the entire original concept could not be realised He didnrsquot comment on the land parcel occupied by the Metro and its impact on the projectlsquoHavenrsquot got positive replyrsquoA BMC official said that the area occupied by the Metro project had been taken over on a temporary basis when construction work was going on ldquoThough the construction is almost complete the site has been converted into a dumping yard Around 30000 sq ft approximately 3000 sq m is still with the Metro 3 We are corresponding with them as the land is needed for the crematorium but we havenrsquot received any positive response yetrdquo said the officialSantoshkumar Dhonde assistant commissioner of G South ward said that the crematorium project did not come under his department Dr Daksha Shah executive health officer did not respond to middayrsquos calls and messages while Sudhakar Shinde additional municipal commissioner also remained unavailable for commentMMRC SpeakA Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation MMRC spokesperson stated that approximately 4000 sq m had been taken over for the construction of a crossover and shaft to facilitate work The construction of the crossover has been completed and backfilling of the shaft is in progress ldquoApproximately 1000 sq m of land has been already handed over to the authorities The remaining 3000 sq m will be returned to the authorities at the earliest after reinstatementrdquo the spokesperson saidPeaceful atmosphereThe eightpavilioned structure will not only offer privacy but also a peaceful atmosphere with each pavilion having its own landscape and a separate exit Each furnace is surrounded by a waiting area for mourners The sunlit atria offer a calm and serene ambience Out of eight pavilions three have wooden pyres including one advanced pyre that requires only 100 kg of wood instead of the 300 kg that traditional ones needThree pavilions have gas furnaces Two are kept vacant The trust wanted to install gas pyres but the BMC will decide as per the requirement The trust received donations from the Mahindra Group Tata Group HT Parekh Foundation JSW Foundation Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd and Hemendra Kothari Foundation among others organisationsThe BMC official on the condition of anonymity said that the civic body would spend around Rs 25 crore to complete the remaining work of the crematorium The officer added ldquoOur priority is to start the facility as soon as possiblerdquo08No of pavilions in facility