India, April 18 -- Summer vacations are here, but the gates to the only recreational space in Kandivali East's Thakur Complex remain shut. Residents have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of Jogger's Park - officially known as Shyam Narayan Singh Thakur Manoranjan Maidan - a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) garden currently under the care of an NGO, Shivtej Arogya Seva Sanstha.

The park, a much-needed green space in the crowded neighbourhood, was closed for nearly two years for renovation work undertaken by the NGO under the BMC's caretaker policy. "Back in January, trust officials visited the site along with some of us and assured us that the work was complete. They told us it would open soon," said Ashish Vaidya, a member of ...