Pune: It has been 10 months since the civic administration gave in-principle approval to the new plan for redevelopment of Sarasbaug Chowpatty, but the redevelopment work is yet to move forward.

Now, the administration continues to delay the redevelopment of Chowpatty, citing the model code of conduct for assembly elections.

Sarasbaug is the center of attraction for tourists coming from pune and outside the village. On holidays, tourists prefer to visit The Lord Ganesha in the pond in Sarasbagh, take a tour of The Peshwe Park for the children and then enjoy the food on the chowpatty.

Apart from this, passengers, students, employees returning from work late at night also have a place called Sarasbagh Chowpatty for dinner. In 2019, the state government gave a special status to Sarasbaug Chowpatty on the lines of Mumbai's Chowpatty as a 'clean place to get good food'.

eanwhile, the BMC's encroachment department had taken action there one-and-a-half years ago and locked down some of the drains after it was noticed that encroachments on Sarasbaug Chowpatty were on the rise. At that time, the question of redevelopment of Sarasbagh Chowpatty had come up.

The BMC had sought plans from architects for the redevelopment of Sarasbagh Chowpatty. One of the plans was approved. In December 2023, the bmc's estimates committee approved the new plan by abruptly stopping the work on the plan and changing the earlier plan.

The redevelopment of Chowpatty was initially to cost Rs 8 crore. The cost has now reached Rs 18.50 crore. However, the work on chowpatty redevelopment is yet to begin.

The encroachment department had said that an audio-visual presentation of the project information would be made to the municipal commissioner in August. However, the presentation or actual work has not yet begun.

The entire process for the work has been done before the model code of conduct for the assembly elections, so there is no reason for technical hurdles in the related work. However, the civic administration has come forward with the reason for the model code of conduct.

Features of the redeveloped chowpatty
- In the redevelopment, 78 lanes will be removed on two floors.
- 54 on the ground floor and 24 on the first floor
- The remaining drains will be auctioned after the rehabilitation of 54 authorised professionals.

- Attractive paint, electric lights, special arrangements for seating customers
- Underground parking arrangements for 200 vehicles
- Entrances on both sides for underground parking

"The issue of Redevelopment of Sarasbagh Chowpatty is pending. The code of conduct is currently in place and further process will take place after the code of conduct is done," said, Somnath Bankar, Head, Encroachment Department, Municipal Corporation.

"Since it is a Diwali holiday, parents take their children to Sarasbaug. There is some cleanliness at Sarasbagh Chowpatty. Still, there's a lot of congestion on the chowpatty, chaotic parking, horse feces on the road, food waste and dirt. At the same time, the toys in the Park are very dirty and rusty. There, too, the BMC needs to improve," Kedar Gadade, citizen.