South Mumbai gets two new garden spaces

The canopy in the garden

Sunday evening proved green and grand for SoBo as the space got two new garden spaces. There was the opening of the Jawaharlal Nehru Garden, located near Mantralaya. Post that opening, locals got access to a beautified Suraksha Garden at Cuffe Parade.

While a substantial audience was drawn from Colaba, the high rises of Cuffe Parade around the venue and Machchimaar Nagar (Fisherman's Colony), adjacent to this garden waited at Suraksha Garden for the formal launch, it was treated to visuals of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Moshumi Chatterjee cavorting in the rain to ‘Rimzim gire saawan' on big screens at the mandap in the garden.

In fact, the soundtrack and visuals were played often, pre-function and throughout. The reason was not the rain pelting down in the film and in real life too, but the fact that this song from the film ‘Manzil' had featured Suraksha Garden all those years ago.

So historical

The anchor said at the start, "You all must have watched the song Rimzim gire saawan from the film ‘Manzil'. This garden, then, is historical."

The trees in the space. Pics/Anurag Ahire

As the dais was taken by several dignitaries and chief guest Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis lit the lamp, the audience was exhorted to keep the applause going. The anchor stated to laughs, "There is no GST on applause, taaliyan bajni chahiye…"

Former corporator Harshita Narvekar said in her speech, "This is an iconic day for locals. We are gifting them two open spaces that were not available to them. This is a testament to the strength of collaboration and the active participation of citizens. The ‘A' ward now has the largest number of open spaces. Each one of us has a unique role to play in this world, to make it a better place."

Makarand Narvekar, the former corporator, added, "The sole credit for this must go to the residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade. I remember this space being an illegal dump yard. At night, trucks used to be parked outside, and debris was dumped. The change shows how great the achievement has been."

Minister of Tourism, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Mangal Prabhat Lodha claimed, "It has been astonishing to witness the transformation of this space. Developmental projects will fall like rain under the current ruling dispensation."

Rahul Narvekar, the speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, said, referring to the locals, that this was "their achievement." He added, "You have furthered the cause of wholesome living." The Speaker said that Deputy CM Fadnavis always had a "special affinity for Colaba and Cuffe Parade." The Speaker said other aims for the area are "the beautification of the Fisherman's Colony and making it a tourist spot; to beautification of Gateway of India and adding facilities there."

International city

Fadnavis said in his opening remarks about Makarand Narvekar, "He is not only the councillor but was also our counsel for reclaiming this garden." Fadnavis had the audience laughing as he said, "Rimzim gire saawan, and it is raining today, so this is a great omen. The residents, I am pleased, realise that all of us must up the livability quotient of our cities."

The Japanese

Fadnavis, who is just back from a trip to Japan, made a reference to greening through Miyawaki forests, which is planting urban forests, trees packed densely together in a small space. He took a potshot at the political opposition, stating, "It is true that when we are changing the city, transforming it, there are some people who are unable to digest this and get a stomach ache."

Project on

Taking a macro view of Mumbai, Fadnavis talked of a number of projects on take-off stage. He said, "By the end of this year, at least part of the Coastal Road will be open, and go some way in decongesting the city." He spoke about a sea link from Versova to Virar and added, "There will be a day when a person will be able to go from Cuffe Parade to Virar in about 40 minutes."