PCMC Has No Safety Audit Details for Appu Ghar Despite 15-Year Lease Extension : Sandeep Waghare
Written response from civic administration raises questions over ride safety, fire preparedness, emergency facilities and project timelines at Nigdi amusement park
PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD : Serious questions have been raised over the safety arrangements and administrative oversight of Appu Ghar, the amusement park spread across seven acres at the Late Indira Gandhi Garden in Nigdi, after the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) reportedly admitted that it did not have information on several critical aspects of the project.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Sandeep Waghare has criticised the ruling BJP for granting a 15-year lease extension to Pushpak Amusement, alleging that the decision was taken despite opposition from local corporators, including members of the BJP.
According to a written response provided by the civic body’s Land and Estate Department to Waghare, the administration does not have information about several key safety clearances, the proposed timeline for starting and completing the work, or the current status of the project.
The response has also raised questions about whether the necessary safety audits and certifications for amusement rides and electrical installations have been completed.
Waghare has questioned why the civic body granted such a long lease when it reportedly lacked information about the project’s progress, safety arrangements and operational framework.
Three-year extension sought, 15 years granted
Appu Ghar, a popular amusement destination in Pimpri-Chinchwad, was leased to Pushpak Amusement in 2005 for 21 years. The lease period expired on September 30, according to the information provided.
The company reportedly has outstanding dues of Rs 6,83,665.
The contractor had sought a three-year extension, citing losses caused by the closure of its water park for two years during 2015-16 and 2016-17 due to water scarcity. It also cited the closure of Appu Ghar and the water park between March 2020 and December 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, instead of the three-year extension sought by the contractor, the ruling BJP granted a 15-year extension, triggering questions from Waghare over the decision-making process and the terms of the lease.
No information on safety audits and clearances
The written response from the Land and Estate Department reportedly states that the civic administration does not have information confirming whether the necessary permissions for the proposed rides and entertainment facilities have been obtained.
It also lacks details about safety audits of the rides, electrical safety certifications and other mandatory safety clearances.
The administration has reportedly not provided a proposed timeline for the commencement and completion of the project or details about the current progress of the work. A policy governing entry fees and charges for rides has also not yet been finalised, according to the response.
These disclosures have raised concerns about the level of oversight being exercised by the civic body over a public recreational facility expected to attract families, children and tourists.
Questions over emergency preparedness
Waghare has also raised concerns over the absence of information about essential safety arrangements for visitors.
According to the written response, the civic administration does not have details confirming the availability of CCTV cameras, security personnel, medical facilities, emergency services, fire safety arrangements and designated emergency exit routes.
The administration has also reportedly not prepared an assessment or report examining the potential impact of the project on the environment around Indira Gandhi Garden and Durgadevi Hill, traffic conditions or nearby residents.
Waghare has questioned how a 15-year lease could be granted without the civic administration having comprehensive information about these critical aspects.
‘The civic body has no control over the project’
Criticising the ruling BJP and the municipal administration, Waghare alleged that the city’s tourism infrastructure was being mishandled.
“The civic administration has no information about when the work at Appu Ghar will be completed or its current status. No adequate measures have been taken from the perspective of visitor safety, and the municipal corporation has no effective control over the project. Despite this, Appu Ghar has been handed over to the contractor for 15 years. The ruling party and the administration are damaging the city’s tourism destinations,” Waghare said.
He questioned the rationale behind granting the extended lease despite the reported gaps in documentation and demanded accountability from the authorities.
The disclosures have brought the management of Appu Ghar, the terms of its extended lease and the status of safety compliance under scrutiny. The civic administration’s written response, as cited by Waghare, does not by itself establish that the required safety measures are absent; it indicates that the administration lacks information confirming their status. Clarification on the actual safety arrangements, statutory approvals and contractual conditions would be necessary to establish the full position.
