October 22, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has officially scrapped the ₹12-crore Urdu Learning Centre project in Byculla and recovered Rs 4 crore in construction costs from the Maharashtra Skill Development Department. Civic officials confirmed that the BMC will hand over the land parcel for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) once the pending rent of ₹44 lakh is received.
The land, leased to the state ITI for 30 years in 2011 at an annual rent of Rs 5.1 lakh, will now revert to the Skill Development Department. The project’s cancellation marks a setback for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, as former corporator Yashwant Jadhav and his wife, ex-MLA Yamini Jadhav, had been strong advocates of the Urdu Learning Centre. BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha and minister Nitesh Rane had earlier opposed the project, demanding an ITI instead.
After Yamini Jadhav’s defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections, the state government halted construction in December, despite 40% of the work being completed.
Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh criticized the decision, alleging political interference. “We had proposed a joint Urdu and Marathi Learning Centre. Urdu is a language and not linked to any particular religion. BMC returned the land without consulting any stakeholders. This is a loss to lakhs of Urdu speakers and lovers of Mumbai. Urdu is a language of love and poetry, but it is being demonised for petty political gains,” he said.
Earlier, Kotecha had stated that the land was initially meant for an ITI but was diverted under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Shaikh added, “By not discussing the issue with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, BMC and the state government are also in contempt of the legislature. I will request the Speaker to call for a meeting and get the facts clarified.”
Source: The Times of India
