BMC Revives Cooperage Garden’s Glory with Horse Carousel Project

Bringing Back the ‘Ghoda Garden’ Legacy

 

Earlier famously known as 'Ghoda Garden,' Cooperage was a popular destination for horse rides, attracting tourists, locals, and families. But after a tragic accident led to the discontinuation of the rides, the park lost visitors. Today, after a five-year hiatus, BMC is planning to bring back the heritage and recreational value of the park in the form of a modern carousel.

 

Carousel Project Details

 

BMC, on 2nd December 2024, invited expressions of interest (EOI) to develop and operate the carousel, which has a capacity of up to 32 riders at one time. The contractor will maintain and operate the ride for seven years after which it will be handed over to the civic body. The civic body has provided 5,000 square feet of land for installing the attraction, while the bidder is required to provide a revenue model to sustain the project. The cost of the ticket for the ride is yet to be decided.

 

Officials Comment on the Initiative

 

Former corporator Makrand Narwekar underlined the cultural importance of the project, saying, "The Cooperage Ground was once called Ghoda Garden, where horse rides were a big hit with children and adults alike.". Though, after a disastrous accident, the rides were ceased, resulting in the decrease in visitors—not only from Mumbai and Maharashtra, but from all over the country and the world too. By creating a horse carousel, we try to regain the garden's grandeur and fetch back visitors to Colaba.

 

Saving Mumbai's Leisure Areas

 

The merry-go-round, or carousel, will have animal-shaped seats like horses, elephants, and swans, combining a sense of nostalgia with contemporary entertainment. The move is one of BMC's initiatives to upgrade the city's parks and public spaces so they can remain lively and interesting for citizens and tourists.

 

The revival of Cooperage Garden with a horse carousel is expected to boost footfall and rekindle the lost charm of this historical landmark, making it a must-visit destination once again.