CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates Dadar park in Pramod Mahajan's memory

Pramod Mahajan Kala Park, along the Senapati Bapat Marg in Dadar, was inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, the death anniversary of the late union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

Mumbai mayor Snehal Ambekar presided over the function, which was attended by Rekha Mahajan, wife of late Pramod Mahajan, with her children- Poonam Mahajan, the MP from North-Central Mumbai, and Rahul Mahajan.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta, Deputy mayor Alka Kerkar, guardian minister of Mumbai city and Minister for industries Subhash Desai, local MP Rahul Shewale, MLA Sada Sarvankar, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, and BJP leader in the BMC Manoj Kotak were present at the occasion along with MLAs from Mumbai.

With Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) sewerage operations (SO) and Storm Water Drains department buildings on either side and railway tracks to its rear, the nearly 14-acre park now has ponds with lilies and lotuses, and is home to around one lakh flowering and decorative plants of 140 species, with bushes and 5,000 pots of flowering plants. About 4,000 sq m houses 350 trees, prisms, a walking track for senior citizens, 200 benches for visitors, and amenities like drinking water fountains and toilets. The garden has a rainwater harvesting system installed for operating the fountains.

CM Fadnavis was extremely pleased to inaugurate the garden and said that for citizens of Mumbai gardens are a must so that they can breathe fresh air. "The state government and the BMC should come together to develop such gardens and green spaces in the city. Throwing open such a beautiful garden in the memory of Pramodji, and that too on his death anniversary, is a tribute to him. He has made a commendable contribution in the telecommunication sector," said Fadnavis.

The CM, after the inauguration of the garden, planted a tree in the park and tried his hand on the tree census by using GPS technology. S V R Srinivas, additional municipal commissioner, helped him with the tree census.