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The nearly 300-strong Zoroastrian community in New Bombay had much to cheer about on the eve of Parsi New Year when, on August 17, 2011, CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) allotted them a plot at the New Bombay node of Koparkhairane on which to build a fire temple. In the absence of a place of worship in the satellite city Zoroastrian devotees, some of whom have been residing there for over three decades, had perforce to travel all the way to south Bombay to pray at the agiaries there, mentions the Afternoon Despatch and Courier (ADC) in its issue of August 20, 2011.

Sharukh Doctor, president and managing trustee of the New Bombay Zoroastrian Association Charitable Trust at the New Bombay node of Vashi, informed ADC: "I received a letter from CIDCO that we have been allotted a plot for building our religious abode. The plot is situated close to D Mart which is Plot no 14/2 in Sector 9, Koparkhairane. It is an 850 sq m plot, and the cost... is about Rs 63 lakh.” The Association, which is short of the requisite funds has appealed to the community to help by donating money to cover the deficit (see "Funds for new fire temple,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, September 21, 2011) as the plot has to be purchased within 60 days of the notification. As of now the last date is November 30, 2011, though an extension has been asked for, Doctor has informed Parsiana in an e-mail.

The New Bombay Association, which was formed in 1994, has been petitioning the government for the plot since the past four years. Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee and land developer Jimmy Mistry confirmed to Parsiana over the telephone that he has offered to construct the building for the fire temple. The fire temple will prove a major boon for residents of the various nodes of New Bombay. Vashi resident Behram Mohta, who is New Bombay head of Mahesh Tutorials, but not a member of the Association as yet, told ADC: "Since many years now, we have had to visit fire temples in South Bombay or in the western suburbs to offer prayers. That will soon change.” He added that it will not be possible to build an agiary as that would necessitate a priest being in attendance round the clock, which would pose difficulties. A dadgah would be better suited to the needs of the community in New Bombay, according to him. Viraf Dadachanji, who has been living there since 1980, explained that in a dadgah the fire can be tended to even by a layman. Naushir Parlewala, another resident expressed happiness at the development and mentioned that the community, and especially Doctor, have worked very hard to obtain the plot. Currently the place is covered with overgrown grass and monsoon foliage, but Doctor assured Parsiana via e-mail that the place with its 25.76 m frontage and a depth of 33 m is "otherwise a pretty flat plot.”

Doctor further states that in addition to the agiary/dadgah, it is the aim of the Association to have a community center which can be used for navjotes, weddings, muktads and monthly gatherings for the youth where they can mingle while adults can "indulge in Parsipanu.” "Two of our trustees who are retired navar-maratabs can also conduct classes for teaching prayers to young children as well as impart religious education to adults.” Funds permitting, and with the sponsorship of large donors, the Association could also build an old age home, a pressing need in the community due to longevity.

Setting his sights further, Doctor envisions a time when the membership of the Association will increase with more and more families setting in New Bombay in close proximity to the new international airport coming up there. Zoroastrians could sell their small apartments in Bombay and move into more spacious accommodation in the well planned city, as many have already done. He strongly urges Zoroastrians to consider shifting into large apartments in the vicinity of the new fire temple where property prices are around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per sq ft, underlining his suggestion with "nobody can stop an idea whose time has come.”