Rajarshi Shahu Garden at Chinchwad also has a jogging track, swings, slides and toys.
A toy train is a great attraction for kids visiting a garden and this point has been picked up by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The PCMC has placed toy trains in a couple of gardens in the city and one of these is the Rajarshi Shahu Garden. This garden is spread over two acres in Shahunagar, off Chikhali Road, Chinchwad MIDC. Located in a residential area, the garden attracts about 300 people on a daily basis.
Sulochana Bhaldar, a homemaker, says, “This garden is the best one as it is very close to most of the residents of Shahunagar. It is centrally located in this area, but I think if people from outside want to visit, they will have to get their own vehicles as there is no bus stop or autorickshaw stand close by.’
The toy train, named ‘Shahurani’ and a green patch are a welcome sight as one enters the garden. The garden has a jogging track as well as a recreational area for children.
The garden also has a beautiful play area with swings, slides and toys. According to Suresh Salunkhe, garden superintendent of the PCMC, the toy train was set up in 2005, four years after the inauguration of the garden. “This is the element that attracts children to the garden,” he said.
Shailesh Gogate, a senior citizen, said, “The children are happy when the Shahurani is functional. They like to sit and watch the fountain when tired. I come here in the evenings to see children play. It relaxes me a lot.”
The garden is open from 5am to 9am for people to exercise on the 300m walking track. There are no entry fees during these hours. However, when the garden opens for the public in the evening from 12pm to 8pm, adults have to pay Rs2 and children can enter with just a rupee. The ticket counter earns about Rs500 on weekdays, while the amount crosses Rs1,000 on weekends.
Since the garden is located in a residential area, there is not much parking space and no parking fees. The vehicles are usually parked on the road in front of the garden. There are plenty of trees and the garden is well maintained by the contractors.
Salunkhe said, “The fountain of the garden will be started in a couple of days for the summer, when it is regularly functional. It is maintained by a different department and they are the ones who decide whether the fountain should be started or not.”
The garden was inaugurated and opened to the public on March 10, 2001 after spending about Rs35 lakh for its making.
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