Two years after the beautification proposal for Nehru Rose Garden was announced, the project remains stuck in limbo despite the municipal corporation floating tenders four times. The latest tender was issued two months ago but has yet to be opened, leaving the iconic garden in a deplorable state.
Cost Reductions and Controversies
The project has been controversial from the start, particularly regarding its cost and tender processes. The estimated cost was slashed from an initial Rs 8.8 crore to Rs 8.4 crore and then further reduced to Rs 7.8 crore. The first tender, issued in December 2024, drew criticism when officials allegedly manipulated dates during the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The matter was escalated to the Election Commission, and an internal committee later recommended scrapping and reissuing the tender. Subsequently, tenders were floated twice in 2025.
In 2025, the project became embroiled in a corruption scandal when an alleged audio clip of the then superintending engineer, Sanjay Kanwar, demanding a 10 per cent commission from a contractor surfaced. The Vigilance Bureau arrested Kanwar, intensifying scrutiny against the municipal administration.
Deteriorating Condition of the Garden
The delays have led to the deterioration of the 30-acre garden, established in 1967. Once a favourite picnic spot for children and the elderly, it now sees only senior citizens coming for morning and evening walks. The fountain, once the main attraction and operational in the evenings, is broken. Swings are in bad shape, gleaming tiles are coming off, and benches are broken, leaving few places for visitors to sit.
Prakash Singh, a senior citizen, said, “My grandson comes along with me during my evening walks and he insists on taking swings but these are in a bad condition and should be replaced immediately in view of children safety. The revamp project is getting delayed but the safety of the children can’t be compromised.”
Another senior citizen, Pritam Singh, noted that most benches are broken and there is hardly any place left to sit. Tirath Ram recalled the good old days when the fountain worked and there was a sound and light show, attracting people of all ages in the evening—now a thing of the past.
Residents Call for Immediate Action
With green spaces in the city decreasing, residents urge the authorities to start the revamp work soon. Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar said the tender has been floated for two months but remains unopened. With the new Municipal Commissioner joining, hopes are high that the tender will be opened soon.
Nehru Rose Garden once featured over 17,000 plants and 1,600 rose varieties, but its current state reflects years of neglect.
