If the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) project proceeds as planned, people may be able to enjoy Mumbai’s first elevated forest promenade through the Malabar Hill forest by December.
According to a civic official, “The civil works are almost complete, and ancillary works such as electrification, painting, restrooms, and ticket counters are in progress.” Given the Assembly elections and the manpower pressure, the last stretch of work could take two to three months. However, we hope that the walkway will be ready by the end of the year.”
Inspired by Singapore’s successful elevated forest walks, the BMC proposed building an elevated walkway through Malabar Hill Forest in 2020.
Tenders for this project were awarded in 2021 for Rs 22 crore, with civil activities beginning in 2022. Initially, the BMC set a one-year timetable for the project’s completion; however, civic officials stated that the project is currently 90% complete and will be inaugurated by December of this year.
Last Monday, the BMC issued a tender of Rs 2.43 crore to hire personnel for maintenance and housekeeping services. “We have issued the most recent tender to guarantee that the necessary personnel are in place and ready when the facility is made available to the general public. Because the promenade is elevated, security is of the utmost significance,” the official stated.
The route will begin and terminate on Siri Road, beyond Kamala Nehru Park, where the walkway would stretch up to 705 metres into the Malabar Hill Forest, affording an unobstructed view of the Arabian Sea. The walkway will also have a birding area and a glass-bottom viewing deck.
The promenade deck is made of wood, and the building is built with as little concrete as possible to guarantee that the natural flow of water through the hill slopes is not disrupted, nor is wildlife migration hampered.
“Not a single tree was impacted for this project, and given that this is an eco-sensitive location and a silent zone, we had to carry out the civil works while a stipulated timing, which has led to an extension of the deadline by a year,” said the official.
Source: The Indian Express
