Garden modelled on Maratha forts to be unveiled in Chembur

Garden modelled on Maratha forts to be unveiled in Chembur
Built at a cost of Rs 6 crore, the garden situated at Priyadarshini Park in Chembur will house replicas of the forts at Kolaba, Purandar and Shivneri that are linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji.

From a dumping ground to one of the city’s biggest fortthemed gardens. That tells the success story of the BMC converting a massive vacant plot at Chembur’s Priyadarshini Park into aplace of beauty.

Built at a cost of around Rs 6 crore, and taking just over six months to complete, the civic body is all set to throw open the garden that is modelled on three forts of the Maratha empire, linked to the warrior king, Shivaji.

The park, which has a botanical garden and a nursery, houses replicas of the forts at Kolaba in Alibaug, the one at Purandar, and Shivneri, the birthplace of Shivaji.

It is part of BMC’s plans to create 35 new gardens by this year-end. Several plots across the city have already been identified, and eight of them will be turned into themed parks.

“We have recreated the three forts as well as the Sahyadri range. The Kolaba fort is a coastal fort, so we have built a pattern with waves, followed by a mountain range that houses the other two forts. The idea is to let citizens enjoy a themed park which will give them a green walking experience. Apart from locals, tourists too will like the garden," said Additional Municipal Commissioner SVR Srinivas, the incharge of BMC's open spaces.

“The Chembur plot was completely dead with encroachments, debris and illegal structures. We had to remove all that and start from scratch. The clean-up took around three months, after which we began work on the garden itself. It has a green walkway along the periphery and is one of the largest themed gardens," Srinivas added. “We will throw it open soon.”

The garden is part of BMC's plan to construct themed gardens across the city.

Recently, civic officials held the foundation ceremony for a Samyukta Maharashtra-themed garden in Dadar. It is expected to be ready by August.

In fact, the BMC has announced plans to create 35 new gardens — including eight themed parks — on a design-build basis by this year-end. Besides the Samyukta Maharashtra-themed garden in Dadar, the municipal corporation plans to create a phases of the moonthemed park at Hegadewar Udyan in Ghatkopar, a zodiac-themed park at Nakshtra Udyan in Andheri, a musical garden on a recreational ground at Model Town in Andheri, a rose garden at Upper Govind Nagar in Malad, and a butterfly garden at SK Patil Udyan in Charni Road.

THE MODEL FORTS

♦ A 17th-century military fortification, Shivneri Fort is located near Junnar, in Pune District. It is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire

♦ The Purandar Fort is part of the folklore of Shivaji's battle against the Adil Shahi Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughals. It is located ahead of Saswad village. It is also known for being birthplace of Sambhaji Bhosale, a son of Shivaji

♦ Located in Alibaug, the Kolaba Fort was chosen by Shivaji to be fortified after the whole of South Konkan came under his command

PLANNED GARDENS

Among the 35 planned gardens — including eight themed parks — across the city are:

♦ Samyukta Maharashtra-themed garden in Dadar

♦ Moon-themed park at Hegadewar Udyan in Ghatkopar

♦ Zodiac-themed park at Nakshtra Udyan in Andheri

♦ A musical garden on a recreational ground at Model Town in Andheri

♦ A rose garden at Upper Govind Nagar in Malad

♦ A butterfly garden at SK Patil Udyan in Charni Road