Mumbai: Goregaon recreational ground lies in ruins as civic neglect raises safety concerns

Shahid Vijay Salskar Manoranjan Maidan in Goregaon East. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE

A spot check of a public recreational space in Goregaon by mid-day on Monday found it to be in an unsafe state, with portions of it in ruins. The infrastructure of Shahid Vijay Salskar Manoranjan Maidan in Goregaon East has remained neglected for over two years now, according to locals who regularly visit the park. Toilets are unusable, light poles are fallen, water taps stolen, and benches/decorative installations are broken.

Visitors say the garden is clean and green, but fixtures aren't maintained

Regular visitors claim that the garden, which lacks CCTV coverage, becomes an addicts' den at night as visitors leave around 9 pm. The night trespassing has allegedly led to several damages to property, which are yet to be repaired by the authorities.

A broken fixture

mid-day spot check

Spot: Shahid Vijay Salaskar Manoranjan Maidan
Location: Goregaon East
Date: June 22, 2026

Findings…

Decorative animals allegedly damaged by drug addicts

>> Broken light poles with iron rods sticking out
>> Electric wires sticking out of the broken path lights and open circuit boxes on light poles
>> Purposefully damaged decorative animal installations
>> A few decorative installations which were damaged beyond repair were seen lying on the grass beds awaiting their removal
>> Only one water tap operational
>> Non-operational/broken washrooms with no water supply
>> Broken portions of boundary wall and damaged main gate
>> Apart from a few saplings that were on the brink of collapsing, the walkways were clean, and the garden was green

Origin of issues

Uneven floor mats in the children's play area

As per park visitors, most of the damage was allegedly caused by drug addicts who have made this garden their nighttime den. They trespass in the garden for illegal activities at night and cause irreversible damage to public property while they are intoxicated.

Status of problems

The garden has only one functional tap

Residents who live near the garden say past police action has helped a little in controlling the issue, but maintenance and repair of damaged portions of the garden have been awaited for over two years. "The garden can only be revived if BMC repairs it, and the police protect it simultaneously. There is just one security guard here who cannot defend himself against these large groups of drug addicts, let alone the garden," stated a resident who has been a regular at the garden for 12 years.

Visitor Speak

Raghunath Mandal, 31, Goregaon East resident
‘I work nearby and visit regularly. I remember the benches here were in good condition two years ago, but they have deteriorated. I don't recall any major repair work to prevent it. Most are damaged in some way. The swan decoration here has disappeared completely.'

Shivani Ambelkar, 20, Virar resident
‘It is clean and green but one major concern is the washroom facility. It has been broken and without water. Ladies here have to leave the garden and go to a public washroom outside.'

Shyama Jaiswal, 79, Goregaon East resident
Shyama Jaiswal points to a broken installation that has been lying on the grass
‘I have been visiting this garden since it was built. Its state has worsened in last 3-4 years. Crumbled statues lie here without any removal. Intoxicated individuals arrive in this garden daily by 7 pm and behave as they please. They damage things around here and leave by morning for us to discover their doings.'

Safety concerns

Sandeep Gadhave, shakha 52 pramukh, Shiv Sena (UBT)
‘Several area residents have reached out to me regarding the sad state of this garden. Recently, I received a call from a parent saying that their child got injured on the rusted slide. Unauthorised persons stay the night here, and with the garden in this state, morning walkers are forced to ditch the public park just to stay safe. The corporator should focus on the well-being of this park, which is named after the honourable martyr Vijay Salaskar-ji'

Official Speak

A Civic official
‘We believe that the garden is well-maintained in terms of horticulture and cleanliness. The problems that remain, such as the washrooms and the boundary walls, are larger and the solution cannot be a quick fix. A proposal is being drafted for major repair work, and we expect the work to conclude by the end of this financial year. To address the trespassing and illegal activities, P-South ward has informed the local police for increased patrolling in the area'