Local residents furious over fun fair with amusement rides and stalls operating without permission on Kurla ground; BMC seeks police intervention
A fair with stalls and amusement rides was held at the civic-run Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Garden without BMC permission, drawing the ire of local residents. Pics/Dweep Bane
A fair complete with amusement rides and stalls was found to be operating illegally at the Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Garden in Chandivli, Andheri East, drawing the ire of local residents and prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to seek police intervention. According to civic officials, the event—the Chandivli Festival—was organised without BMC permission, despite prior communication denying the request.
In a letter dated April 28, the assistant commissioner of L ward wrote to the Sakinaka police station, urging immediate action against the organisers for violating civic regulations. The garden-cum-playground, officially designated as an ‘entertainment ground’, is governed by BMC regulations that restrict any private events or public gatherings between April 15 and June 15. As per a civic circular, this period is exclusively reserved for children’s recreational use during the summer holidays.
Children forced to play on a small protion of the ground as the unauthorised fair continues in the background on Thursday
As per the BMC’s letter, organiser, Prashant Maurya, had initially sought permission on April 7 to host the event from April 20 to 29. However, the BMC clearly communicated that permission was denied. Despite this, civic officials noticed preparations underway during an inspection on April 21 and alerted the Sakinaka police. “No enforcement action was reportedly taken at the time,” the letter notes. A follow-up inspection on April 28 confirmed that the fair was indeed operating, with amusement rides and commercial stalls set up on the premises. Officials said they also received several complaints from residents and local sportspeople about disruption and misuse of the public space.
“This is a blatant violation of civic norms and repeated instructions,” the assistant commissioner stated. “Appropriate legal action must be taken against the organisers for using BMC-managed property without approval.” The Sakinaka police have yet to issue a public response. However, when contacted, Yogesh Shinde, police inspector at the Sakinaka police station, said, “The letter must have reached our office. However, due to the WAVES Summit and PM Narendra Modi’s visit, we’ve been tied up with bandobast duties. May 1 being Maharashtra Day, the entire force has been diverted for citywide security arrangements. If the garden is being used illegally, strict action will be taken. We will investigate the matter by Friday at the latest.” Meanwhile, BMC officials reiterated the importance of protecting public spaces, especially those designated for children during school vacations.
Locals raise concerns
Local residents have raised serious concerns about the legality and safety of the event. Key questions remain unanswered: Where was the electricity for the rides and stalls sourced from—was it legally sanctioned or illegally tapped? Who collected the fees from vendors, and where did the money go? Was a fire department no-objection certificate (NOC) obtained? In events involving amusement rides and food stalls, fire clearance is mandatory. With no civic or police permissions in place, accountability in case of a mishap remains unclear.
Amusement rides at the civic-run Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Garden in Chandivli, Andheri East on Thursday
Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of the Chandivli Citizens Welfare Association, told mid-day, “The misuse of BMC grounds for personal gain and political propaganda by local leaders is a serious breach of public trust. It’s disappointing to see lawmakers openly flouting the law. Their actions suggest that laws apply only to common citizens, not those in power.”
Makkar added: “If a fire or other mishap occurs, who will be held accountable? Stalls have reportedly been sold—who’s collecting this money and under whose authority? This appears to be a profit-making venture running on public property, without transparency. Who provided electricity despite the BMC’s denial? Why hasn’t the police acted even after being informed by civic officials? Their silence and inaction are deeply troubling. Shockingly, the event features photos of the prime minister and chief minister, giving it a false sense of legitimacy. Societies nearby have suffered due to the noise and nuisance, but residents are too afraid to speak up against such illegal events by influential netas."
Organiser’s version
Wasim Khan, president of the BJP Minority Morcha and organiser of the Chandivli Mahotsav, defended the event; he said, “We had applied for permission from the BMC well in advance. However, by the time the civic body formally denied it, preparations were already complete and the festival was about to begin. We ensured that space was left for children to play, keeping their needs in mind. If the police or BMC issue any notice, we will respond appropriately and abide by the law. Many of the stalls at the festival have been given free of cost to help local vendors. Our intention was never to cause inconvenience, it was to support the community. The festival will end by May 6.”
‘Clear the garden’
“The garden department of the BMC has been instructed to clear the said garden tomorrow [Friday]. We had also written to the Sakinaka police station. However, since no action has been taken, we have directed the garden department to take necessary stringent measures. As today [Thursday] was a holiday on account of Maharashtra Day, no action could be carried out,” said Dhanaji Herlekar, the assistant municipal commissioner of ward L.
Residents speak
“My son and daughter come here every day to play with their friends. We live in Gopal Chawl, which is just five minutes away. My children are very happy that the funfair has been organised, especially as they are on vacation,” said Sabina Alam, a resident.
Visitors shop at commercial stalls set up by the fair’s organisers. Pics/Dweep Bane
“We don’t know if this is legal or illegal. Regarding safety measures, if the organisers have set up such a large fair, they must have taken the proper precautions and permissions. It’s a good entertainment option for our children and even for us, especially during the vacation period. They’ve also organised a dance programme, which everyone is enjoying,” said Shafaq Mohammad Khan, a resident of Sakinaka.
“We bring our children here on weekends and holidays so they can play on the ground. Even though a large part of the garden is occupied by the fair, some areas have been left vacant. The play area with slides and swings has not been encroached upon. The cricket pitch-like space is also open for children to play,” said Usha Mehta, a resident.
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