BMC readies blueprint for Nehru Garden renovation

MUMBAI: Over two months after the Public Works Department (PWD) handed over one acre of land parcel and the Jawaharlal Nehru Garden near Mantralaya to the BMC for maintenance, the civic body presented to residents its plans for repair and refurbishment of the open space.
In a meeting held last week, the civic body shared its master plan layout, according to which it plans to retain all the existing trees and shrubs and only create pathways, lawn mounts, decorative lighting, a pergola with seating and a portable security cabin, among a few other things. As the garden falls under the Marine Drive Heritage precinct, a nod from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) would be required before carrying out renovation works.
Local residents have been closely monitoring the Nehru Garden project as they have fought a long legal battle to save the green space from illegal encroachments.
Corporator Harshita Narwekar said the residents have been very clear right from the beginning that the open space should be refurbished in a way that the green cover remains intact. “Civic officials have already completed a survey of the plot, including mapping of utilities, and we plan to begin work as soon as possible,” she said.
The Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT) which played a crucial role in saving the Nehru Garden from encroachments said they have already conveyed to authorities that they would not want a single inch of concrete to creep in. “We have given our feedback on how we want it to be permeable and open to sky space. The garden cell proposed having an undulating landscape, but considering the population of senior citizens in the area who may want to use the space, we suggested keeping it at one level without any raised landscape,” said Atul Kumar, vice president NPCCWT.
The NPCCWT’s legal battle dates back to 2013, when they had challenged encroachments near Nehru Garden by the BJP state headquarters, Janata Dal and agencies such as the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, the Employment Exchange and the Zunkha Bhakar Kendra (ZBK).
A senior BMC official from the garden department said all inputs from citizens will be seriously considered, and while the work is on, they also plan to put up the proposed design at the entrance in a bid to invite additional suggestions.