Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Mumbai Gardens Face Repairs as BMC Cuts Funding
Mumbai has many gardens and playgrounds that need repairs or new construction.
City records say work is needed at about 200 open spaces, but the city says it does not have enough money to do it all.
The garden department has Rs 68 crore for this year, while officials estimate basic work would cost Rs 250 crore.
Some gardens have broken paths, damaged play equipment, or unusable toilets.
The city has also set aside money for large projects such as sewage plants and roads.
A BJP corporator says the city is discussing raising the garden budget.
Opposition representatives say some of their requests for repairs have not been answered.
An urban planner worries that private management could make some open spaces harder for everyone to use.
Mumbai’s commissioner says the city needs more open spaces but must find creative ways to make them.
BMC records show about 200 gardens and open spaces need construction or repairs, but funding shortages have prevented the work.
The garden and tree department received requests worth Rs 710 crore; a technical assessment put basic work at Rs 250 crore.
The department’s final budget for the current financial year is Rs 68 crore, down from Rs 200 crore proposed earlier.
BMC officials say major infrastructure projects took priority, while BJP corporator Ganesh Khankar says officials are discussing a 25–30% budget increase.
Opposition corporators and an urban planner raised concerns about stalled repair requests and the possibility that private management could restrict access to open spaces.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), its garden and tree department, elected representatives, and Mumbai residents.
- What
- About 200 gardens and open spaces need construction or repairs, but work has been constrained by limited funding.
- When
- The current financial year; the article also cites requests and correspondence from June and September.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, including areas such as Govandi, Deonar, Chembur, Kurla, and Jogeshwari.
- Why
- The garden department’s funding was reduced, while officials say major infrastructure projects have drawn substantial capital expenditure.
Concerns about funding and access
BMC officials’ and leaders’ responses
Garden funding
Concerns about funding and access
Opposition corporators say requests for new gardens and repairs have been withheld or gone unanswered; the article reports the department’s final allocation fell to Rs 68 crore.
BMC officials’ and leaders’ responses
BJP corporator Ganesh Khankar says the administration is discussing increasing the allocation by 25–30% this year and correcting it further next year. A BMC official said part of the proposed budget was routed to infrastructure works.
Private management of open spaces
Concerns about funding and access
Urban planner Hussain Indorewala argues that a small public budget points toward privatisation and that private management can restrict universal access.
BMC officials’ and leaders’ responses
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said Mumbai must find innovative ways to create open spaces given its land constraints, including potentially using building podium areas. The article says a 70-hectare coastal-road-adjoining stretch was awarded to Reliance for development and maintenance.
Adequacy of green space
Concerns about funding and access
The article cites Mumbai’s 0.87 square metre of open space per person and compares it with recommendations of 9 square metres by WHO and 10–12 square metres in Indian planning guidance.
BMC officials’ and leaders’ responses
Bhide said that, considering Mumbai’s landmass and topography, per-capita green space is more than enough, while acknowledging that distribution is inequitable and could improve.
- Open spaces needing work
- About 200, according to BMC records.
- Requests received
- Around 210 requests from elected representatives.
- Estimated basic work cost
- Rs 250 crore after technical assessment.
- Requests’ total value
- Rs 710 crore, according to a garden department official.
- Current-year final department budget
- Rs 68 crore, compared with Rs 200 crore proposed earlier.
- Estimated cost of a new garden
- Rs 25–30 crore; basic repairs are estimated at Rs 4–5 crore.
- Mumbai open space per person
- 0.87 square metre, according to civic records.
- WHO recommendation cited
- 9 square metres of open space per person.