Delhi govt to develop ‘pink parks’ as women-only spaces

The ‘pink model parks’, one of each will be developed in the 250 municipal wards of the civic body, will feature selfie points and graffiti, CCTV cameras, toilets and open gym equipment

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is planning to develop a series of women-only parks across the city with an aim to provide safe public spaces for them, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

Women and children at a Pink Park near Ranjit Singh Flyover, Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

The ‘pink model parks’, one of each will be developed in the 250 municipal wards of the civic body, will feature selfie points and graffiti, CCTV cameras, toilets, open gym equipment and additional security measures, along with dedicated children play areas, officials said.

A senior official from the horticulture department said that the matter was taken up during a review meeting of the sector last month, where deputy mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal suggested that such parks must be developed.

While Delhi has more than 17,000 parks, almost 90% of them are managed by the horticulture wing of MCD.

“There are more than 15,000 parks under the civic body with the number of parks in each ward varying from a few dozen to over a hundred. One such model pink park needs to be developed in each ward. We have experienced that open gym equipment and other facilities have been developed in various parks but women feel hesitant to access them and such parks can provide safe spaces for women. The parks will also be open children less than 10 years of age,” the deputy mayor had said.

The concept of developing exclusive spaces for women in the city, such as parks, dates back to the 19th century. Parda Bagh, located on the Netaji Subhash Marg in Daryaganj area, was the first zanana (women-only) park of the city. The Bagh is right opposite where Subhash park exists now. “It was a women only space. Parda Bagh’s entry was guarded by two tall robust Pathan women and children above the age of nine years were not allowed to enter it. It was an open space where women could freely stroll and move around without worrying about other people,” Sohail Hashmi, author and documentary filmmaker, said .

Hashmi said that the space was also used by the women who were active in freedom struggle to hold meetings. In 2019, the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) had decided to revive the Zanana park, as a part of the Jama Masjid precinct redevelopment plan, but the project was never implemented.

Sudha Sinha, former president of Federation of CGHS Dwarka, said that she is regular walker in parks and the overall idea of developing women-only parks seems a progressive step as it will be a more secure space. “Such parks will only be useful a neighbourhood parks and if people have to travel from a longer distance they would be usually accompanied by family members. It seems a good concept but only for the people living right next to such facilities,” she added.