The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has leased the Appu Ghar project at late Indira Gandhi Park in Nigdi to Pushpak Amusement for 15 years. This decision was made despite opposition from local BJP corporators. Now, serious questions have arisen regarding the safety of this project, according to a written response from the PCMC to questions raised by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Corporator Sandeep Waghere.
According to information provided by the PCMC, the corporation does not have details on whether the necessary permits have been obtained for the proposed rides and entertainment facilities at Appu Ghar. Furthermore, PCMC is unaware if safety inspections of the rides, electrical safety, and other essential safety certificates have been completed. The PCMC also lacks information regarding the proposed start and completion dates of the project work, as well as the current progress of the work. No policy has been determined regarding entry fees and ride charges.
PCMC also lacks information regarding safety measures. No details are available concerning safety provisions such as CCTV cameras, security personnel, medical facilities, emergency services, fire safety, or emergency exit routes. Additionally, no study or report has been prepared on the potential environmental, traffic, and local resident impacts of this project on Indira Gandhi Park and Durga Devi Tekdi areas.
Pushpak Amusement owes PCMC Rs 6,83,665. The contractor had requested a three-year extension, citing water scarcity in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and the closure of Appu Ghar and Water Park due to the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020 to December 2022. However, the then-ruling BJP granted them a 15-year extension, as also stated in the information provided by PCMC.
