Pune : AAP Protests Monorail Project at Thorat Garden In Kothrud, Demands Attention to Basic Facilities

Members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest on February 24 outside the Late Tatyasaheb Thorat Garden in Kothrud, vehemently opposing the proposed monorail project put forth by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The protest aimed to highlight the stark neglect of amenities within the park, despite the unwarranted push for the monorail initiative.

Expressing their dismay, AAP Pune questioned the rationale behind prioritizing the monorail project while essential facilities within the park remain in disarray. It was asserted that the project seemed to be progressing under the influence of certain members of the ruling party, disregarding the concerns of citizens.

#Pune : #AAPProtests Monorail Project at Thorat Garden In #Kothrud, Demands Attention to Basic Facilities https://t.co/1Ul8zuXwvq pic.twitter.com/zCQuYdDT0v

— Pune Pulse (@pulse_pune) February 24, 2024

The proposed installation of seventy pillars within Thorat Garden for the monorail construction raised significant concerns among the locals, particularly affecting visitors who frequent the park for recreational purposes. Issues such as the closure of the waterfall, dilapidated children’s playgrounds, malfunctioning solar-powered drinking water systems, and the deterioration of the dinosaur park underscored the neglect pervasive in the management of the park.

Despite citizens’ pleas, including suggestions to repurpose an existing pond into a skating rink for children, these concerns have been consistently overlooked.

AAP pledged staunch opposition to the monorail project in Kothrud, denouncing it as a misallocation of citizens’ funds. City president Sudarshan Jagdale emphasized the wastefulness of the proposal, echoing sentiments shared by Dr. Abhijit More, who criticized the project as a means to benefit contractors under the guise of public development.

Highlighting past instances of discord, AAP members recalled the thwarting of a similar extravagant proposal by the BJP to install expensive talking trees in Balasaheb Thackeray Udyan due to AAP’s opposition.

Advocate Amol Kale lamented the lack of alignment between people’s representatives and the genuine needs of citizens, labeling it as a democratic tragedy wherein decisions are made arbitrarily without due consideration to public welfare.

The protest witnessed the participation of numerous AAP members, including Sudarshan Jagdale, Surekha Bhosale, and others, collectively advocating for the preservation of Thorat Garden and the prioritization of citizens’ concerns over extravagant projects.

Shreyas Vange