Days after the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) sent a Rs 22 crore notice to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in
Colaba, Mumbai for installing bollards along civic footpaths and roads, the
hotel management sought a waiver for the charges, citing security.
Laid around the periphery of the Taj Palace
hotel post the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the bollards and barricades were
erected to obstruct direct access to the hotel and tighten security around the
luxury hotel. According to the officials, BMC regulations require imposing fees
for erecting barricades on public roads and footpaths, consequently,
outstanding dues up to Rs 22 crore have accumulated since the bollards were
first installed in 2008.
An official said that while the hotel has
deposited some amount, a majo
r part of it is yet to be cleared by the hotel. “While some payment has been
received, a large amount of the total charges which have accumulated over
several years is yet to be cleared,” an official said.
“Representatives from the hotel have said that
the bollards were constructed from a safety point of view. Therefore, they have
sought concession in the charges. Our discussion is currently underway. We will
be taking the final decision pertaining to the subject in the next week,” a
senior official from A ward told The Indian Express.
However, the waiver for the Taj Mahal Palace
hotel has been debated since 2020.
Earlier in 2020, the Shiv Sena UBT-led standing committee had approved a
concession of nearly Rs 10 crore for the Taj Mahal Palace hotel for the
construction of the security infrastructure on public roads. The waiver was,
however, withdrawn last year after a BMC proposal in April 2025 was accepted by
the state-appointed civic administrator and BMC chief in May 2025.