Mumbai: Clinging to the rocky seashore of Bandra’s Carter Road is a patch of greenery that acts as an oasis for many of the suburb’s population. The park opens its gates at the crack of dawn, and even in the early morning hours, one finds it filled with people getting in their day’s quota of exercise, feeding the ducks, or simply chatting with old friends. The one thing in common among most of these park-goers, though, is their appreciation of the park itself.
“I have been coming to this park since 1922. It’s like a refuge for us. No commercial activity is allowed in the park, and the maintenance of the park itself is amazing,” said Bandra resident Satish Khanna.
Another veteran, who walks with Khanna each morning is K.K. Ramani, who takes time out for some rejuvenating exercise before heading to his legal services office in Bandra. “I have been coming to this park since it was first built. The park was built back then by the late Oliver Andrade. It used to be a landfill area, and he completely transformed it,” he reminisced.
However, a black cloud hangs over the heads of these morning walk lovers. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to take over the park was implemented to ensure that land allotted for parks does not get misused, most people are apprehensive of adverse outcomes.
“Entry to the park has been made free now, so just about anyone can come in. It might not be as safe for people anymore. Some trusts misused the land, that doesn’t mean we should suffer,” said Khanna.
It is not only the veteran crowd that is apprehensive of a change, though. Young choreographer, Sahil Sayad, who has been coming to the park to work out with his friends for the past five years, is also wary of the change. “The trust people have maintained it well. I don’t think a transfer is a good idea at this point,” he said.
Writer and journalist Vidyadhar Date, who also happened to be walking along the promenade, has a different view. “I think people here are afraid of democratising the park. Free entry will mean that their elitist group will no longer stay exclusive. This is essentially what they are averse to,” he states.
