14 March,2026 10:31 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mini train Van Rani at SGNP. File pic
Visitors to the iconic Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) have reason to celebrate. As per the officials, the much-awaited Vanrani mini train is set to be inaugurated on Saturday. The mini train is expected to bring back one of the park's most popular attractions for tourists and families.
According to officials, the inauguration ceremony will take place at Krushanagiri Station inside the SGNP at 11:30 am. The event will be attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Ganesh Naik, Maharashtra Forest Minister.
Furthermore, Ashish Shelar, minister of information technology and cultural affairs, and Pravin Darekar, chairman of the Self Group Redevelopment Authority, are also expected to join the inauguration ceremony.
The Vanrani mini train is a favourite among children and nature lovers. It offers a scenic ride through the lush greenery of the national park, allowing them to experience the forest landscape in a unique and relaxing way.
While the attraction had been closed for a considerable period, its reopening has been eagerly awaited by regular visitors of SGNP.
Residents of Abhinav Nagar in Borivali East recently alleged that Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) was encroaching on about 2250 sq ft of land near their locality bordering the park. A local public representative who visited the site claimed the work was being carried out on the instructions of SGNP director and IFS officer Anita Patil.
Amid the controversy, SGNP director Anita Patil issued a show-cause notice to SGNP deputy director (South) Kiran Patil. The notice states that the officer allegedly failed to provide timely clarification on the forest department's stand to residents, public representatives, and the media.
Sources from the forest department said, "Had Deputy Director (South) Kiran Patil clearly communicated the forest department's stance earlier, the misinformation about SGNP allegedly encroaching on land would not have spread. The delay in responding to the allegations ended up tarnishing the image of the park administration and the forest department. The notice also refers to the deputy director's alleged inefficient working method and seeks an explanation for the delay in clarifying the issue.
The allegations soon gained attention, and the matter was later raised in the Maharashtra State Assembly, where some public representatives demanded action against the park director.
