New York: New York City Council has passed a bill to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park by June 1, 2028, following the death of 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan in a carriage accident earlier this year.
Named the ‘Romanch Act’ after the teenager from Pathankot in Punjab, the bill was passed with 40 votes in favour and seven against, while two council members did not vote. It will now be sent to New York mayor Zohran Mamdani for his signature.
Romanch, the son of Pathankot businessman Deepak Mahajan, was visiting Central Park with his parents, Priya and Deepak, and younger brother Manak during the summer when the accident occurred.
According to the account of the incident, the family was riding in a horse-drawn carriage when they handed their phone to the driver to take a photograph. The camera flash reportedly startled the horse, which bolted. Romanch’s mother fell from the carriage, and he got down to help her. The carriage later overturned, killing him at the scene.
The tragedy renewed calls to end horse-drawn carriage rides in the park, a practice that has faced longstanding concerns over safety and animal welfare. The city council held a hearing soon after Romanch’s death to consider legislation and hear the views of carriage owners and drivers.
Under the new bill, the industry will be phased out over the next 19 months. The transition is also expected to address the livelihoods of workers and the welfare of the horses.
City Council speaker Julie Menin described the bill’s passage as a historic step, saying Romanch’s tragic and preventable death highlighted the need to act on longstanding concerns.
