Renovation work at Nehru Garden hanging fire for 5 years

The Rs 3.84-crore project to renovate Nehru Garden at Company Bagh, which started in November 2009, has been hanging in the balance since.

The project was supposed to be completed within a year of its stone-laying ceremony.

The garden, located in the prime location of the city where people would come for walks and children played in the evenings, is in a shambles. There is not even a small patch of grass where one can sit down and relax.

A beautiful recreational spot in the nineties, the park once had a huge concrete elephant and a toy train where children would play. Both were dismantled by the authorities without any substantial reason.

An expensive musical fountain was installed in the park, which also has been removed for lack of maintenance.

Residents allege that this all was a gimmick by the authorities to make money from new contracts.

Gurcharan Singh, assistant commissioner (technical), said the project had been delayed due to some reasons. But now, the project is being running smoothly and would be completed within two months, he added.

"As per the plan, the park will have mounds covered with grass, a pathway, canopies and huts with benches and a fountain near the centre," he said.

"The major attraction in the park would be a musical fountain. Rocks with new designs, stone work and two designer gates also will be there," he said.

He said the park would also include a children section which would have flower-bed cascade maze, colourful swings. "We will also install underground irrigation system, which will automatically sprinkle water on plants," he added.