BMC to set up Mumbai’s 1st horse carousel at Cooperage Ground
BMC invites bids for Mumbai's first horse carousel at Cooperage Ground, aiming to attract visitors and restore its charm. ₹1.50-crore project.
MUMBAI: The BMC has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI), inviting bidders for the establishment of Mumbai’s first horse carousel at Cooperage Ground in South Mumbai. The carousel has to have a seating capacity of up to 45 and will operate under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The project will involve operation and maintenance of the carousel for a period of seven years. While the BMC will provide the land, the successful bidder will be required to present a revenue model for the venture.
A carousel, also known as a merry-go-round, is a ride that features a circular rotating platform. The seats on a carousel are often designed to resemble objects such as automobiles, trains and animals. Common animals seen on a carousel include horses, elephants, and swans.
Assistant BMC commissioner Jaydeep More confirmed the development, adding that the carousel was a ₹1.50-crore project. “We will provide the location and the one who wins the bid will have to run the horse carousel with a seating capacity of 32 to 45,” he said. “They will be allowed to sell tickets.”
Makarand Narwekar, former BJP corporator from Colaba, stated that under the leadership of assembly speaker and Colaba MLA Rahul Narwekar, they had been advocating the proposal for more than a year. “I submitted a proposal to the BMC in January 2024,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see that it is now issuing an EOI for the project. This will be a delightful experience not only for Mumbaikars but also for visitors from across Maharashtra, as well as domestic and international tourists, who will surely enjoy horse-riding in Colaba.”
Cooperage Ground, formerly known as Ghoda Garden, was once a popular spot offering horse rides for both children and adults. However, after an unfortunate incident a few years ago, the rides were discontinued, leading to a decrease in visitors, not only from Mumbai and Maharashtra but also from domestic and international tourists. By introducing the horse carousel, the aim is to restore the charm of Cooperage Ground and attract visitors back to Colaba.
ABOUT THE AUTHORLeena Raghunath BaligaLeena Raghunath Baliga (byline: Linah Baliga) is Associate Editor with nearly two decades of experience in journalism,and has earlier worked with TOI, DNA and Mumbai Mirror specialising in civic affairs, urban governance and political reporting. Based in Mumbai, she has looked into the functioning of civic administration, public policy and governance, with a particular focus on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), urban infrastructure, housing, redevelopment and city planning. Over the years, she has consistently reported on issues that directly impact citizens, including municipal administration, public health, BEST, environmental concerns, major infrastructure projects and state government policies affecting urban development. Her reporting combines on-ground reporting, making complex civic and governance issues accessible to readers while ensuring accountability in civic administration. She has extensively covered political developments that shape urban policy. Her work has also focused on redevelopment policies, affordable housing and the implementation of major infrastructure projects across Mumbai.She continues to chronicle the evolving and changing landscape of Asia's richest municipal corporation. When she isn't chasing stories or poring over civic documents, she enjoys dabbling in art and unwinding with music. An avid rock 'n' roll enthusiast, she has an anachronistic taste in music, with a playlist that happily skips across decades, filled with timeless classics.Read More
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