Residents of Gowalia Tank, Grant Road, irate about two-hour daily closure of iconic August Kranti Maidan, demand that BMC not interfere with history and nostalgia
The front gate of August Kranti Maidan in Grant Road West on Wednesday. PIC/KIRTI SURVE PARADE
Grant Road residents are annoyed that the August Kranti Maidan is shut between 1 pm and 3 pm daily due to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) open spaces policy. While much has changed around the garden, from where Gandhiji kicked off the Quit India Movement in 1942, residents have urged the authorities to help preserve its unique ties to the local community.
The rich history of August Kranti Maidan has made it a unique landmark and a beloved open space for locals. It was once open round the clock for Mumbaikars to take strolls, relax, read books, or chat with friends and neighbours. With its intrinsic ties to several generations, the park continues to be a hub that supports the age-old way of life of residents of surrounding buildings, which for some include simple routines such as closing their shop and dashing home for lunch.
Front gate of August Kranti Maidan in Grant Road West on Wednesday. PIC/KIRTI SURVE PARADE
Residents have pointed out that now that the garden is closed in the afternoon, a crucial time when the park was used for recreational purposes, including post-lunch strolls. What used to be a straight walk across the ground, spanning merely 150 metres, has now turned into a walk around the circumference of the park, totalling over 850 metres.
Authorities’ explanation
According to information from the garden department of the BMC's D ward, all public parks, playgrounds, and recreation grounds are closed between 1 pm and 3 pm every day. The decision was taken by the civic body in 2021 to ensure maintenance of all public parks as per requirements specified by the open spaces policy. “Parks need daily maintenance and upgrades, including watering and pruning of plants, sweeping of community areas, and other maintenance work. The BMC used to receive complaints about unkempt lawns, residents getting wet during the hours when plants were sprayed with water, or even food being spilt on lawns during lunch hours, which attracted birds and insects. A decision was, therefore, taken to keep all gardens across Mumbai closed during afternoon hours,” an official said.
Residents speak
Over the past few decades, the historic spot has witnessed several small changes that have altered daily experiences in the lives of residents in its locality. Some claimed there was a time when the hills of Matheran (Western Ghats) were visible on clear days from the balconies of three-storey buildings, and the only sounds that interrupted their daily routine were those of trams changing tracks. Rumi Tarporevala, 95, a resident of Gowalia Tank for over 75 years, said, “Not much change has happened in this area. Food joints that served meat have now become vegetarian eateries. There is now more traffic on the road.”
Sooni Taraporevala, screenwriter and photographer, who was born and raised in a residential building constructed in 1921 just a few metres away from August Kranti Maidan, said, “What is the BMC actually protecting by closing the park in the afternoon hours? It’s a playground. This started after a restoration project was undertaken at the park two years ago. This playground was the centre of community-based activity and is tied to personal experiences of residents of the locality. Now, we can’t choose a simple experience of walking across the park during lunchtime. We have to walk the circumference.”
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