August 7, 2025: In a bid to enhance walkability in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to upgrade the iconic Marine Drive promenade — a UNESCO-nominated heritage precinct. The initiative is part of a broader civic vision to develop a continuous heritage walkway stretching up to Girgaon Chowpatty.
Mumbai’s municipal commissioner and state-appointed administrator, Bhushan Gagrani, inspected the site on Wednesday morning to assess current pedestrian infrastructure. The BMC aims to not only improve the physical walkability but also to elevate the promenade’s aesthetic and heritage value.
As part of the initiative, the BMC will begin removing unauthorised hoardings and barricades along the promenade. “This will help restore the visual charm of Marine Drive,” said a civic official. The plan also includes painting existing stalls and peripheral structures in a uniform colour scheme inspired by Mumbai’s cultural identity.
“With the Coastal Road now operational, we have been able to create a much broader walkway adjacent to the Marine Drive promenade,” the official added. “Our goal is to ensure the entire stretch from Marine Drive to Girgaon Chowpatty remains pedestrian-friendly and visually cohesive as a heritage corridor.”
This proposal aligns with an earlier BMC initiative in 2021, which envisioned a ‘Freedom Walkway’ connecting August Kranti Maidan to Girgaon Chowpatty. The walkway was to be paved with basalt stone and adorned with murals and tablets symbolising India’s freedom struggle.
Civic officials now plan to merge both projects, with Girgaon Chowpatty serving as the linking point. The integrated walkway would not only promote heritage tourism but also offer a safer, more engaging experience for pedestrians across Mumbai’s historic seafront.
Source: The Indian Express
