Mumbai’s 1st horse carousel project stayed by BMC

1 December 2024

Mumbai: Former BMC Corporator, Makarand Narwekar has written a letter to BMC chief about pending Horse Carousel project in Colaba. Narwekar’s letter to Bhushan Gagrani pointed out that a Carousel in Cooperage ground, Colaba is important tourist friendly initiative.

The ground was historically known as Ghoda Garden. Hence a plan was put in motion to setup Mumbai’s 1st carousel with horses at the Cooperage. Referring to his communication with Assistant Commissioner, A ward he said, “a plan was put in motion to give back glory to Cooperage ground. Unfortunately, this initiative has also been stayed in an unexplained manner. As horse riding was discontinued at this garden a couple of years back. Colaba had lost young visitors who visited this garden in South Mumbai.”

In his letter, Narwekar said this project was given approval from BMC’s mechanical and electrical department. But now like Colaba Causeway and Gateway of India  projects, this initiative has also been shelved and the reason for this stay remains unexplained. 

“To get back tourists back at this garden, I had proposed establishing a carousel with all the required facilities at the Cooperage ground for the children to play. A carousel, also known as a merry-go-round, is a ride that includes a circle-shaped rotating platform. A carousel has seats made to look like objects such as automobiles, trains, and animals. Animals that can be seen on a carousel might be horses, elephants, and swans,” said Narwekar.

Narwekar promised to follow up on this plan for welfare of citizens, “BMC has approved projects worth hundred of crores whose financial prudence is in doubt. But find itself capable to take away the joy and smile of young kids by staying a plan worth only Rs 2 crores. BMC’s anti-Colaba bias remains unexplained. I wish the better sense prevails and BMC stops hindering Colaba’s path to become a tourist and citizen friendly space,” read the letter.