Navi Mumbai: Give us a recreation centre, urges Vashi seniors

Senior citizens’ forum demands that construction restarts on the centre in Vashi’s Sector 17 garden that was stopped by the NMMC two years back; civic body suspended work allegedly after objection from a Congress leader

After an objection to the construction of a recreation centre in its garden, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) stopped building one in Vashi Sector 17 two years back. However, a senior citizens’ forum from Sector 17 has demanded construction be restarted, as they are facing issues due to the absence of the recreation centre.

“The NMMC had begun construction on a recreation centre in Meenatai Thackeray garden. But after construction began in 2019, it was stopped,” said former corporator Sampat Shewale.

Sampat Shewale, former corporator

He said the centre is around 500 square feet and its cost of construction is R25 lakh. “It will have facilities like washrooms, a library and facility for games like carrom. Every day, more than 400 senior citizens go on walks in the garden. They are facing problems, as there is no toilet facility here,” said Shewale.

A local resident said, “There are 35 recreation centers for senior citizens in NMMC gardens. What is the issue with this centre?”

Shewale said the Sector has around 3,500 senior citizens. “Most of them live alone as their children work in other cities. This recreation centre can help them spend their time,” another local resident said.

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“We have followed up with the NMMC repeatedly. However, the work has not restarted yet. There is a recreation centre in every sector of NMMC in its gardens. But it has stopped work only of this centre,” said Niranjan Desiger, president of Maharaja Senior Citizens’ Forum, which has appealed to NMMC to resume construction of the centre.

“According to NMMC rules one recreation centre can be built in an area of 2 square kilometers. There are 3 recreation centers nearby. Even local people are opposing this recreation center. The garden space is limited. After the construction of the recreation centre, it will be reduced. They should choose another location to construct a recreation centre,” said Congress leader Anil Kaushik, who opposed the recreation center in the garden.

City Engineer of NMMC Sanjay Desai was unreachable for comment.

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