Ranchi: City parks meant for recreation and relaxation are becoming unusable because of broken amenities, overgrown vegetation, poor upkeep, and encroachments.Swami Vivekananda Smriti Park in Kokar, built by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), is an example. Its swimming pool is filled with waste, bushes have spread across portions of the premises, and wooden benches, swings and other facilities have fallen into disrepair. The park has become a den of anti-social elements, with people consuming liquor in broad daylight, making visitors feel unsafe.An elderly Kokar-based resident, Savita Kumari, said, “Had the park been in good condition, we could have used it for morning walks and jogging, while children could have come here to play and have fun. But today, we hardly have a place in the neighbourhood for recreation.”Zakir Hussain Park on Ratu Road is in similar shape. With no caretaker, broken children’s play facilities and poor upkeep remain unattended. Suraj Munda, an employee of a private company, said, “I long to rest in the park for some time after long hours in the office. But its poor condition and lack of maintenance stops me.”Netaji Park near Kutchery Chowk has lost its recreational purpose, with vendors turning the space into a marketplace. Residents said regular cleaning, repair of amenities, removal of encroachments and deployment of caretakers could restore the parks.Speaking to TOI, Ranchi mayor Roshni Khalkho said, “RMC is considering upgrading all parks in PPP mode. Beautification work has begun at many places.”“Boundary walls of Netaji Park in Kutchery Chowk are under construction, while officials have been directed to prepare proposals for Kokar Park’s beautification. But the renovation of Zakir Hussain Park is not certain yet as one end of the Ratu Road flyover ends near the park and the park might turn into a roundabout for smooth traffic movement,” she stated.
