BMC to transform Dadar’s Five Garden into accessible space for specially abled
Civic authorities maintained that this Five Garden project initiative is going to be a pilot project that is going to be implemented in other gardens of the city as well.
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“The project is divided into three phases, in the first phase the corresponding footpath and adjoining public toilet will be made accessible to specially abled, in the second and third phases ,the work in the garden area as well the corresponding footpaths will be initiated,” a civic official told the Indian Express.
In a unique move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has charted out plans to make the Five Gardens in Dadar (East) an accessible zone for specially abled citizens and those with vulnerabilities. The project is being taken up as part of the union ministry’s Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) which is also known as Accessible India Campaign (AIC) – a nationwide programme aimed towards improving accessibility for the specially abled.
Located in Dadar (East), the Five Gardens is a Grade – III Heritage Structure, which is a popular spot in central Mumbai frequented by residents living in the nearby Parsi Colony and King’s Circle areas. Civic authorities have appointed NGO – Access to Hope as an expert consultant in order to chalk out the design and implementation of the project.
Civic authorities maintained that this Five Garden project initiative is going to be a pilot project that is going to be implemented in other gardens of the city as well.
“The project is divided into three phases, in the first phase the corresponding footpath and adjoining public toilet will be made accessible to specially abled, in the second and third phases ,the work in the garden area as well the corresponding footpaths will be initiated,” a civic official told the Indian Express.
“The idea behind this project is to ensure that the green space is made entirely accessible to the people. The garden is a heritage property, so the work will be taken up in a manner that does not alter or damage the existing space in any way,” the official added.
Sanket Khadilkar, managing trustee of Access to Hope NGO said that the idea behind the project is to not only make it accessible for persons with disabilities, but also make the access to the gardens easier for senior citizens, and children.
“The pathways inside the garden are made of basalt stone, which is very uneven, due to which the specially abled as well as citizens from vulnerable groups find it difficult to walk inside the garden. Our plan will involve making the surface of the garden more even to provide ease of accessibility,” Khadilkar told The Indian Express.
“One of the unique features of this project is to install rides like a merry-go-round or swings which could be accessed by children with disabilities. We will also create tactile flooring to ensure ease of walkability to those who are visually impaired,” Khadilkar said.
Jasmina Khanna, another co-trustee of Access to Hope and one of the advisors who is also specially abled, told The Indian Express that the project will be completed by end of 2025.
The Five Gardens are divided into five green patches labelled as Garden A,B,C,D and E, with common walkways intersecting the green patches from the centre.
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