September 16, 2025: Mumbai BJP president and Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam has urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to immediately suspend its interim policy that permits private entities to manage the city’s open spaces. He insisted that the arrangement be halted until a more transparent, citizen-friendly framework is introduced.
In a letter addressed to civic chief and administrator Bhushan Gagrani, Satam appealed to the BMC not to allocate any further open spaces under the existing 11-month interim scheme, but instead assume full responsibility for their maintenance. Highlighting growing public unease, he warned that several areas had already been misused. “Some open spaces are permanently converted into clubs or gymkhanas, prioritising profit over public use,” he noted.
Satam criticised the current model, under which private trusts and institutions are allowed to maintain such sites, arguing that it leaves room for exploitation. Citing his work in developing more than 60 open spaces in Andheri West, all maintained directly by the BMC, he said this demonstrated a viable model that could be expanded citywide. According to him, public sentiment strongly favours municipal management over private control.
“The city believes that all open spaces must be compulsorily maintained by the BMC, not handed over to any private party, trust, organisation or institution,” Satam said. To reduce financial pressures on the civic body, he suggested regulated advertising within open spaces as a sustainable revenue stream.
The legislator also raised concerns over long-term encroachments. He cautioned that once private groups occupy open spaces, reclaiming them becomes increasingly difficult for the corporation. He alleged that some organisations were exploiting the interim policy to secure control ahead of the finalisation of a new framework, and pressed the BMC to intervene decisively before further damage is done.
Source: Hindustan Times
