5 months on, RWITC, BMC yet to finalise racecourse deal

MUMBAI: It’s been almost five months since Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) members gave their nod to the managing committee to negotiate a deal with BMC regarding Mahalaxmi racecourse, but the club and civic body are yet to finalise the terms of agreement.
According to sources, the BMC/Govt had sent an agreement to the RWITC committee. Some points of that agreement were not in accordance with the original terms decided upon between the RWITC officials and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter’s official residences last year.Consequently, the RWITC has modified it and has sent a new agreement to the BMC/Govt for their approval and are awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani has been telling media that BMC is going to take over the racecourse soon which has raised concerns among walkers and joggers and especially the RWITC members who are yet to receive any update on the development from their managing committee ever since they gave their nod on January 30 earlier this year.
The proposed deal states that an area of 120 acres would be converted into a garden/theme park and the remaining 91 acres of the 211-acre racecourse will be handed over to RWITC for racing activities and a clubhouse.
Meanwhile, BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani has been telling media that they will soon take over the racecourse, which has raised concerns among RWITC members as well as walkers and joggers. “We haven’t received any information from the managing committee on what is being discussed with BMC ever since we gave our nod on Jan 30. We are frustrated by the committee’s disregard to our right to know what is being offered to us and whether it is in accordance with what was told to us by the then BMC chief I S Chahal,” said a member.
“We are extremely worried about the news reports appearing in various media about the taking over the racecourse by the BMC. We haven’t received any information from the managing committee on what is being discussed with the BMC/Govt. We are frustrated by the committee's disregard to our right to know what is being offered to us and whether it is in accordance with what was told to us by the then BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal,” said one member on condition of anonymity.
Sources say, there is also a growing concern among the RWITC officials about the possibility of government change at the upcoming state assembly elections due in October. There is a huge concern over what will happen if there is a new government in place which may have a different view on the entire plan.
The tweets by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray are hinting that if there is a regime change in October, the entire exercise by the RWITC with the present government may turn out to be futile. In that case, any changes carried out at the racecourse by the BMC, may put the racing and other activities of the club in jeopardy.