3 min readMay 27, 2026 03:45 PM ISTThe Dadar Kabutarkhana, located on a traffic island near the busy Dadar railway station junction (File photo).Mumbai’s iconic kabootarkhanas have once again landed at the centre of a political and civic debate, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) demanding the demolition of the nearly century-old Dadar Kabootarkhana to make way for wider roads and ease chronic traffic congestion in central Mumbai.The proposal comes almost a year after the Maharashtra government directed municipal corporations across the state to shut pigeon-feeding spots citing public health concerns, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to crack down on pigeon feeding in public spaces with penalties of Rs 500.ALSO READ | From sacred tradition to shutdown: The history and end of Mumbai’s KabutarkhanasThe Dadar Kabootarkhana, located on a traffic island near the busy Dadar railway station junction, has now emerged as a key focus of the civic body’s road-widening plans.On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Mahim, Mahesh Sawant, wrote to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide urging the BMC to take over the structure and reclaim the space for public use.“Our proposal is to conduct a feasibility study and reclaim the kabootarkhana situated on the traffic island. Even widening the road by a few metres could significantly ease congestion at this bottleneck,” Sawant told The Indian Express.“The structure has remained largely idle since the administration imposed restrictions on pigeon feeding. The space should now be utilised for the larger public good,” he added.Story continues below this adCivic officials confirmed that the BMC has initiated internal discussions on the future of the structure and is exploring options to redesign the existing traffic island.“We will hold an internal meeting to decide the future course of action. One option under consideration is converting the existing water dispenser into a decorative fountain while retaining part of the island and using the remaining space for road widening,” a senior civic official said.Kabootarkhanas — designated pigeon-feeding enclosures typically located at major junctions — have long been associated with Mumbai’s social and religious fabric. Feeding pigeons is considered an act of jeev daya (compassion towards living beings) in Jainism, leading to the establishment of several such structures across the city during the colonial era.Built in 1933 and managed by a local trust, the Dadar Kabootarkhana has historically served as a gathering point for bird feeders and religious communities.Story continues below this adMumbai currently has 51 kabootarkhanas, some of which are listed as heritage structures.However, concerns over hygiene and public health have intensified in recent years, with the BMC identifying uncontrolled pigeon feeding in public spaces as a civic nuisance and health hazard.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:mumbai newsAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Advertisement