No guardians for BMC gardens, green cover depleting

Dwindling foliage, uneven walkways, inadequate lighting and unclean toilets. An inspection by TOI shows these are the problems which plague municipal gardens taken back from private trusts and associations by BMC three years ago.
The nine civic gardens reviewed by TOI were Horniman Circle Garden at Fort, Colaba Woods at Cuffe Parade, B N Maheshwari Udyan at King’s Circle, Char Corner Gardens at Dadar, Joggers Park and Raosaheb Patwardhan Garden at Bandra, Lion’s Juhu Municipal Children’s Park, and Swami Muktanand Park and Rajesh Khanna Park at Santacruz.
Prior to January 2016, these green spaces were being maintained by private entities like resident groups or realty firms under a caretaker policy which was in force. Activists had then criticised the civic administration for handing over the gardens to private players for maintenance though it had funds to maintain them.
Now after three years, a few activists admit that BMC’s efforts have not been up to the mark. They suggest that if private parties maintain the civic gardens without being allowed to commercialize the space, it could perhaps be a more viable arrangement.
Reacting to the TOI audit of the gardens in Bandra, Khar and Santacruz, assistant municipal commissioner of H- West ward Sharad Ughade admitted that maintenance issues at some civic gardens, like Raosaheb Patwardhan Park, have been brought to his notice. “We have told the contractors to complete repair and painting works. We have also proposed major revamp of Joggers Park and Swami Muktanand Park to improve the condition of the green spaces further,” he said.
Lion’s Juhu Municipal Children’s Park
Assistant municipal commissioner of A ward Kiran Dighavkar, under whom Horniman Circle Garden and Colaba Woods fall, said: “We do not think that the condition of any garden has deteriorated since they were taken back from private players. We haven’t received any complaints. In fact, public access is not restricted in these gardens.”
Lush green, a crowd-puller
It’s one of the gardens that still has a lush canopy, and BMC has proposed a pathway, a new compound wall with a decorative entrance plaza and horticultural work. The 16,088 sqm garden, which was earlier maintained by Brahmakumaris, had several walkers and children playing around when TOI visited the spot. While accessibility is not a problem, cracks in the walking track pose a threat to senior citizens and joggers.
Meneka Kurup, a resident of Meera Baug, said, “The lighting system can get better. Also, now there has been an issue of rodents.” Another local said security is important as unruly elements are often spotted here.
No security for ‘aeroplane’
The aeroplane model, which makes the park unique, remains a big draw for children despite the many maintenance issues. Santacruz resident Deyasini Choudhary, secretary of Chapel Lane ALM (in pic), said the green quotient has come down significantly and there are fewer security staff to monitor it.
BN Maheshwari Udyan, King’s Circle
“The richest municipal corporation can surely have more security staff in place who could move around the garden and ensure that the play apparatus and exercise equipment are used rightly,” said Choudhary.
In BMC’s hands, but under watchful eyes of locals
The foliage is intact and crowds have swelled owing to the entry fee being done away with. However, the pond with fish and ducks looks in need of cleaning and the water level is low. Since the garden was repossessed by BMC, a group of local residents have supervised its maintenance.
Activist Shyama Kulkarni (in pic), a member of Save Joggers Park group, said, “While we are supervising its maintenance, there are issues like the fence being broken at some places.” Jimmy Batliwala, another member, said, “There are open electrical wires that can pose threat to children. The contractor needs to be prompt in fixing these issues.”
Underbelly of indifference
An uneven pathway greets visitors, but the greenery and a water fountain manage to somewhat redeem the situation. A second look around the park located under King’s Circle flyover shows broken decorative light poles and gazebo benches piled with junk.
Local resident Nikhil Desai (in pic) says new lights were added to the fountain around a month ago, but the garden wore a much better maintained look earlier. “I have been complaining about the uneven pathway for many days, but every department pushes the work to another. Earlier, whenever there was an issue, the private company maintaining it would resolve them immediately,” he added.
Toy train needs a push
The Rotary Municipal Park has visitors flocking mainly for its toy train. Though Rs 10 is collected for every joyride, the toy train is not exactly what it’s made out to be.
According to the board, it’s an electric train, but in reality, staff have to manually push it.
A regular visitor said, “The toilets are also not in a good condition. One cannot blame only the authorities, people do not use it properly. Besides there is trouble with inadequate lighting.”
Horniman Circle Garden, Fort
Activist Zoru Bhathena points to the garden’s compound wall. “There should be just grilles so that the park is visible from the outside. Also only one of the two gates is kept open now.”
History covered in bird droppings
The first thing regulars notice now is how the greenery has withered a bit since 2016 when the Horniman Circle Garden Trust stepped aside after maintaining the space for three decades. For new visitors to the arbor, the first sight is of the plaque at the entrance which bears the layout and details about its history. It’s covered in bird droppings, making the text unreadable. Besides, the pathways are uneven to walk on.
Nayana Kathpalia, a member of the Horniman Circle Garden Trust, said, “With trees always being trimmed excessively, the greenery is lost. While trimming is essential it can’t be done in a manner that greenery from trees or shrubs is taken away.”
Whither guards
While these are not gardens or parks, but only open spaces located at four corners of Lady Jehangir Road near Dadar Parsi Colony, the lawns are barely green any more. Local activist Nikhil Desai says one of the central gardens has a large BEST substation. “The area around the substation is used by drug addicts, so many locals avoid the place,” he says.

No BMC-appointed security staff was present when TOI visited the area.
Entry behind metro barricade
Do not be surprised if you are unable to find the way in easily. Thanks to the underground Metro work nearby, the entrance is behind a huge barricade. Though this appears to be one of the better maintained civic gardens, local residents said the vegetation has reduced.

Padmakar Nandekar, secretary of Cuffe Parade Residents’ Association, said, “Earlier, we would see trees being planted and watering on a regular basis. This does not seem to be taking place now. Even sweeping is not taking place frequently.”
A walk in the darkness
When TOI visited the garden at Linking Road around 7pm, it was not properly illuminated, with many lamp posts, including a decorative one at the entrance, not functioning.
Citizen activist from H-West Federation Anandini Thakoor says while she was against handing over public spaces to private players, the municipal corporation has not been able to maintain the park well. “There is no proper supervision and a lot of neglect prevails,” says Thakoor.