Two years later, Mumbai park still in a mess

Vasantdada Patil Udyan

The issue of open spaces is a touchy topic, especially when it comes to Mumbai. The city already faces a huge threat from builders and real estate developers, hungry to grab even the smallest bit of open space. So in the midst of this, if one gets to know that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems uninterested in developing their own parks and gardens, it becomes a cause of concern for citizens.

While construction material still lies dumped in the garden even after two years, taxi drivers are using the area to park their vehicles

One only has to cite the case of Vasantdada Patil Udyan near Mumbai Central station, which had been temporarily shut by the civic body two years ago for some repair work on the drainage system. Although the work is done, the park is yet to be restored to its former glory.

The park today has transformed from a beautiful park into a dumping yard, with construction material scattered around. Once an open space for recreation for the residents, the area is now an assembly point for drug addicts and miscreants. One side of the park is being utilised as an unauthorised parking space for taxis and other vehicles. Though local residents have raised the issue of the park with the BMC several times, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Vijay Hire, garden superintendent, BMC, told sunday mid-day, "We were recently informed about the park and we will definitely take it up for restoration. Development plans are on and the contractors have also been finalised." The local corporator of the area, Arvind Dudhwadkar, said, "We have been writing to the BMC on this issue but nothing had come out of it. But the development work should start in a week's time as we will do the bhoomipujan soon."