Chattar Singh Park set for overhaul

The Municipal Corporation (MC) is preparing to hand over the upkeep of the historic Chattar Singh Park in Model Town to a private agency, aiming to restore the once-celebrated green space after years of neglect.

The centrally located park, surrounded by a prominent residential area, has long been a source of concern for residents and activists. Once a hub for morning walkers and families, it has gradually slipped into disrepair, with overgrown patches, broken pathways and garbage piling up in corners. Civic activists have repeatedly flagged the deteriorating condition, calling it a “symbol of administrative apathy.”

MC officials admitted that the park’s current state reflects the failure of the earlier maintenance contract. “The previous arrangement did not deliver results and the park was reduced to a dumping ground,” an official said. In response, the corporation’s horticulture branch has drawn up a new plan to entrust the park’s management to a private firm on a build, operate and maintain (BOM) basis.

The proposal, awaiting clearance from the Finance and Contracts Committee, outlines a two-year contract during which the selected firm will shoulder complete responsibility for the park’s upkeep. It includes covering expenses for electricity, water supply, salaries of watchmen, landscaping and incidental development costs. Any damage caused during development work will also have to be repaired by the firm at its own expense.

The focus will be on reviving the park’s heritage character and ensuring it remains a clean, safe and welcoming space for the public.

Residents of Model Town have cautiously welcomed the move, hoping that private involvement will bring accountability and visible improvement. “We want the park to regain its charm. It should not just be a contract on paper but a genuine effort to restore its beauty,” said a local resident.