Maruti bids adieu to Children’s Park,hunt on for caretaker

Maruti Udyog Limited has expressed its desire to exit from the project,after successfully providing children an entertainment hub in the heart of the city.

According to NDMC spokesperson Amit Prasad,Maruti was asked to continue as the caretaker of Children’s Park,but the automobile company refused. “The park has been developed investing crores by Maruti Udyog Limited and it has been maintained well for all these years. We asked the company to continue the service,but they refused,” he said.

Maruti Udyog invested crores to construct a science gallery,musical fountains,Mughlai fountains and swings at the park. The park was part of Maruti’s Corporate Social Responsibility project and the company incurs an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 1 crore to maintain and run the Children’s Park,an official of the company said.

“In return we have given them right to display their boards and hoardings in and around the park. Moreover,it has gained them goodwill of being a people’s company working for their welfare,” said Prasad.

When contacted,Vinay Varshney,Chief General Manger of Maruti Udyog confirmed that they will be handing over the maintenance of Children’s Park to NDMC before October 15. ‘We have our CSR projects in Gurgaon that are our priority now. We are developing Manesar. Delhi is developed and there are many who would be willing to take a site like India Gate for their promotion,’ he said.

The NDMC is now looking at public sector units to take charge of maintenance of the park. “We will take it over on October 15. The park will remain open for children. Meanwhile,we will finalise which PSU will be the next caretaker of the park,” said Prasad.