Mumbai: The Brihanamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is developing 25 new gardens and 16 playgrounds for ₹30 crore, under the Development Plan 2034.
Though the plan has not yet been sanctioned, the BMC has started developing plots in its possession to this end. “The tendering process for the development of these plots, which together account for 21.80 lakh sq.ft., is in its final stage,” Sanjay Darade, chief engineer, development plan department, said.
He said the plots were reserved as gardens and playgrounds in the 1991 Development Plan, and the civic administration has decided to go ahead with the existing reservations while creating and implementing Development Plan 2034.
Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of gardens, said the new open spaces will take the number gardens in the city to 762 and playgrounds to 321. At present, the BMC has 1,042 developed open spaces, consisting of gardens, entertainment grounds and playgrounds.
Naina Kathapalia, a trustee of citizens’ initiative NAGAR, has welcomed the move. “My only concern is that these spaces should be kept open throughout the day, and not for a few hours. Also, no construction activity that encroaches on these open spaces should be allowed,” Ms. Kathpalia said.
The new open spaces will come up in areas including Bhuleshwar, Byculla, Oshiwara, Goregaon, Malad, Borivali, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mulund and Dahisar. The biggest of the 25 proposed gardens will be spread over 5.28 lakh sq.ft. in Ambivali, Oshiwara. Malad will have the largest of the 16 playgrounds on 1.05 lakh sq.ft.
