Mumbai’s civic authorities have initiated a fresh round of restoration works for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar, inviting bids worth ₹2.16 crore to upgrade the city’s most prominent public ground. The project aims to strengthen the park’s heritage value while improving visitor amenities, safety infrastructure, and environmental resilience across the 28-acre open space.
According to officials, the tender focuses on enhancing structural elements, refurbishing public facilities, and improving the overall aesthetic quality of the park. Shivaji Park, long regarded as a cultural and recreational landmark, attracts thousands of walkers, sportspersons, senior citizens, and tourists daily. Its prominence as both a community hub and political address makes its upkeep crucial to Mumbai’s public realm and civic identity. A civic engineering official said the planned works include repairing the ageing peripheral seating ledge, restoring tree basins, repainting murals, cleaning sculptures, and installing additional benches around the park’s perimeter. Decorative lighting will also be upgraded, with new poles, spotlights at entrance points, and improved illumination around key installations. “The intention is to preserve the park’s heritage character while ensuring it remains a safe, accessible space for all users,” the official noted.
In addition to aesthetic improvements, functional upgrades are a significant part of the proposed works. The tender outlines plans for enhanced garden lighting, installation of CCTV cameras near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, and bollard lights to improve visibility and safety after dusk. A new marble fountain with integrated lighting is proposed for the memorial zone at the southern end, adding a symbolic visual element to the site. Urban planners point out that revitalising large public grounds such as Shivaji Park contributes to Mumbai’s broader sustainability and liveability goals. Well-maintained open spaces increase walkability, support low-carbon recreation, and offer equitable access to green areas in dense neighbourhoods. The park’s extensive tree cover — some over eight decades old — provides essential urban cooling and environmental benefits, emphasising the need for careful ecological protection during the upgrade.
The project also includes replacing older dustbins with standardised units, improving wayfinding signage, and repairing street furniture across the promenade. Adjustments to drainage chambers are planned to improve surface safety and reduce waterlogging, particularly during the monsoon. These upgrades are expected to extend the park’s life cycle while aligning with the city’s efforts to build resilient, people-friendly public spaces. Officials stated that the refurbishment builds on improvements undertaken in 2021, when heritage structures and seating areas were restored. The current tender aims to further enhance the park’s usability and ensure that the space continues to serve as a democratic public forum accessible to residents from all backgrounds. The deadline for bid submissions is 25 November.
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