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BMC puts on hold `150cr Mumbadevi Temple project
Sameer Surve | Oct 19, 2025, 04:00 IST
Civic officials confirm that work has been halted following a state-imposed stay on a Rs 130-crore robotic parking component narby
The BMC has put on hold plans to transform the congested lanes around the historic Mumbadevi Temple into a heritage-style precinct after the temple trust raised security concerns regarding a proposed multilevel robotic parking system, a key feature of the Rs 150-crore redevelopment project.
Planned under the Eknath Shinde-led state government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the project aimed to decongest the temple area, rehabilitate nearby stall owners, and give the precinct an aesthetic facelift while preserving its heritage look.
However, civic officials confirmed that work has been halted following a state-imposed stay on the Rs 130-crore robotic parking component, designed to accommodate more than 600 cars behind the temple.
“The project was fully planned and included rehabilitation of licence holders and beautification of the area. But since the robotic parking plan faced objections and a stay from the state government, the entire redevelopment is on hold,” a civic official said. “Parking remains a major issue in the area, and this facility was meant to address exactly that.”
Hemant Jadhav from The Mumbadevi Temple Charitable Trust told Mumbai Mirror that the temple committee had not opposed the project per se, but raised security concerns about having a parking facility adjoining the temple.
“We never objected to the robotic parking. We only expressed concern that its location right next to the temple could be a security risk. But the BMC hasn’t moved ahead with even the rejuvenation or beautification works of the temple precinct,” Jadhav said.
Interestingly, while Mumbadevi’s redevelopment has stalled, the BMC has moved forward with similar beautification works at Mahalaxmi Temple and Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi.
Civic chief Bhushan Gagrani recently reviewed ongoing work at the Mahalaxmi precinct, which includes reorganising stalls and shops, improving access roads, installing heritage-style street furniture, and setting up decorative arches and murals to enhance the area’s visual appeal. According to BMC records, the Mumbadevi precinct rejuvenation was pegged at Rs 150 crore, with the robotic parking component accounting for the bulk of the expenditure. Officials said work can resume only after the state government lifts its stay.
For now, one of Mumbai’s oldest temples continues to draw thousands of devotees every day, through the same narrow, chaotic lanes the project was meant to transform.
Planned under the Eknath Shinde-led state government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the project aimed to decongest the temple area, rehabilitate nearby stall owners, and give the precinct an aesthetic facelift while preserving its heritage look.
However, civic officials confirmed that work has been halted following a state-imposed stay on the Rs 130-crore robotic parking component, designed to accommodate more than 600 cars behind the temple.
“The project was fully planned and included rehabilitation of licence holders and beautification of the area. But since the robotic parking plan faced objections and a stay from the state government, the entire redevelopment is on hold,” a civic official said. “Parking remains a major issue in the area, and this facility was meant to address exactly that.”
Hemant Jadhav from The Mumbadevi Temple Charitable Trust told Mumbai Mirror that the temple committee had not opposed the project per se, but raised security concerns about having a parking facility adjoining the temple.
“We never objected to the robotic parking. We only expressed concern that its location right next to the temple could be a security risk. But the BMC hasn’t moved ahead with even the rejuvenation or beautification works of the temple precinct,” Jadhav said.
Interestingly, while Mumbadevi’s redevelopment has stalled, the BMC has moved forward with similar beautification works at Mahalaxmi Temple and Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi.
Civic chief Bhushan Gagrani recently reviewed ongoing work at the Mahalaxmi precinct, which includes reorganising stalls and shops, improving access roads, installing heritage-style street furniture, and setting up decorative arches and murals to enhance the area’s visual appeal. According to BMC records, the Mumbadevi precinct rejuvenation was pegged at Rs 150 crore, with the robotic parking component accounting for the bulk of the expenditure. Officials said work can resume only after the state government lifts its stay.
For now, one of Mumbai’s oldest temples continues to draw thousands of devotees every day, through the same narrow, chaotic lanes the project was meant to transform.
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