mid-day roundtable » The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to keep the city's gardens open for longer. The commitment came at a roundtable organised by mid-day at the end of a two-month audit of the city's biggest and most popular gardens, which rated them on facilities and safety.

During the discussion between local activists, political representatives, open space experts and a team of mid-day journalists, Dr Kishor Kshirsagar, the deputy municipal commissioner in charge of gardens, said the civic body will work towards keeping gardens open from 6 am to 9 pm. Currently, the city's gardens are shut between 9 am and 4 pm, depriving a sizeable population, including homemakers and children, access to open spaces. Kshirsagar, however, ruled out keeping the parks open beyond 9 pm, citing safety and maintenance reasons.