In days leading to the polls, Bandra residents had been staging a protest at Joggers Park by sitting for two hours every morning and evening, urging visitors to sign a petition against the BMC for taking over the park.
Weeks after fighting a battle with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to 'Save Joggers Park' in Bandra, the residents have now mutually decided to maintain the park along with the BMC. In days leading to the polls, Bandra residents had been staging a protest at Joggers Park by sitting for two hours every morning and evening, urging visitors to sign a petition against the BMC for taking over the park.
Residents had also voiced concerns that the well-maintained park, which was developed on a dumpyard at Carter Road, will not remain citizen-friendly after it is taken over by the civic body from the Suburban Civic Forum Trust that has been maintaining it all along.
The core committee of 'Save Joggers Park' group will soon be listing the major issues and discuss the collaboration with BMC officials. On Friday, Bandra residents gathered at the park to hear what the BMC officials from H/W ward and the local Congress corporator Asif Zakaria had to say. During the meeting, Zakaria said, "The trustees handed over the park to BMC in February 2017. The trust which is no longer interested in maintaining the park, wanted to surrender it since October 2016. The BMC is now taking care of the park and the citizens can help the BMC to keep an eye on maintenance and give feedback whenever an issue is raised."
Citizens who began the 'Save Joggers Park' petition, received over 10,000 signatures through online and offline campaigning since the first week of February. Shyama Kulkarni, a resident of Bandra and social activist, said, "The core committee which has 12 members will be listing out issues with the BMC soon. We have major issues with the security and timings of the park. Since the park is open for 18 hours, joggers allege anti-social elements have started using the ground."
Asif Farooqui, a resident who has been visiting the park since he was a kid, said, "Joggers have been complaining of the deteriorating facilities. We have agreed with the BMC to join hands for the upkeep of the park and put forward issues in the future."
At the meeting, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of H/W ward, Sharad Ughade, said, "We want citizens to come together and help us maintain the park. We will also conduct a monthly meeting with the members to discuss important issues. We will look at suggestions made by the committee members."
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 "Joggers Park")
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