Recently I went to the redeveloped, commercialised Mahim bus station with 24-storey building Kanakia Miami standing on the BEST plot and completely dominating the original user. The luxury building was ready more than two years ago. The bus station had remained closed several years earlier and in the last two years as well. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on August 7.
The stainless steel bus stop design is as shoddy, anti people as in other parts of the city. Sitting on the narrow strip of a bench would be very uncomfortable during long waits for less frequent bus routes
A month after the inauguration, the computerised system for bus operations here has not started working. There is no board outside saying the bus station has opened. There are bus stops with shelter inside but without any information about the destination, not to speak of the route or other details.
The stainless steel bus stop design is as shoddy, anti people as in other parts of the city. Sitting on the narrow strip of a bench would be very uncomfortable during long waits for less frequent bus routes like one going all the way to distant Mira road in the western suburb.
The builder was supposed to provide staff quarters which are not there. There is specific mention of the obligation to build these as I noticed in High Court proceedings in the media. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/hc-go-ahead-for-mahim-bus-depot-revamp-luxury-tower/articleshow/65892562.cms
There is a huge terrace above the bus operation area which perhaps in the original plan was to have been used for BEST use. Now, the builder has used it to provide all sorts of luxuries like swimming pool.
The original four storey BEST administrative building is there, mercifully it is not demolished. But this redevelopment has of course vastly reduced the space of the original plot and there is just enough space for buses to manage entry from the S.V. road side and come out on the road going towards Mahim railway station.
There is a huge terrace above the bus operation area which perhaps in the original plan was to have been used for BEST use. Now, the builder has used it to provide all sorts of luxuries like swimming pool.
A board at the entrance of the tower mentions a facility of golf putting and a badminton court but the swimming pool is not mentioned but it is there.
It seems all the 34 apartments are sold out and the builder must have made a lot of money. It would be worth finding out if he has paid fully for the land, we have reported about big arrears in such projects in the past.
I saw the redeveloped Kurla bus station. It is not so bad. The very very big terrace above the bus operation area is used for buses. It is like a mini airport. That big.