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Mumbai is preparing to open its first elevated forest walkway by New Year, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) overseeing the project. The 482-metre trail, situated on Malabar Hill, offers stunning views of the city and Girgaon Chowpatty. Despite challenges like protecting trees, difficult terrain, and limited working hours, over 90 per cent of the construction has been completed. The walkway, designed to minimise disruption to the environment, has been built with minimal concrete and includes special measures to protect British-era pipelines beneath it. The final phase is expected to be completed by the end of January.
Mumbai is set to unveil its first elevated forest walkway, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning to open it by New Year. The trail, located through the lush greenery of Malabar Hill, offers an unobstructed view of the city and Girgaon Chowpatty. Advertisement
The BMC has reported that over 90 per cent of the work has been completed on the 482-metre trail, which presented several challenges, such as preserving the flora and fauna, and the restriction of working hours. A recent inspection of the site revealed that the pathway was built along a slope without causing any harm to the trees.
A senior BMC official explained that the project's location posed challenges because it was not situated on level ground. The steep 70-80 degree slope made accessing the area difficult. After thorough assessment, the work commenced. Initially, workers used manual labour as machines could not reach the site. Labourers began by clearing shrubs, levelling the ground, and preparing the path, after which piling work commenced using specially adapted equipment.
Labourers working on the project mentioned that transporting the materials up the slope required careful planning. Heavier machinery required more workers to carry it, and tasks that usually took a few minutes were stretched out due to the difficult terrain.
The Malabar Hill area, known for its rich flora and ancient trees, posed another challenge, with the BMC ensuring that no trees were felled during the project. Several surveys were conducted to assess the number of trees along the path, and the alignment of the walkway was altered multiple times to protect them. As a result, the length of the walkway was reduced to 482 metres.
The walkway is 2.2 metres wide, and walking the entire trail will cover almost a kilometre. It is designed to bear a weight of up to 500 kg per square metre. In order to reduce the impact on the surrounding area, minimal concrete was used, with structural steel pillars supporting the pathway instead.
An additional challenge arose due to the presence of British-era water pipelines beneath the site, which the BMC had to avoid disturbing. Once the exact locations of the pipelines were identified, adjustments were made to the pillar placements. In certain areas, the distance between pillars was increased to as much as 12 metres to ensure no disruption to the pipelines.
To protect the area's eco-sensitive environment, the BMC limited working hours to between 9 am and 6 pm and refrained from carrying out any work at night. The machinery used was also chosen for its low noise levels to further minimise disturbance.
Initially proposed in 2020, the project tender was awarded in 2021 for INR 22 crore, and civil works began in 2022. While the original completion deadline was set for a year later, challenges like limited working hours extended the project timeline. Currently, with over 90 per cent of the work completed, the BMC plans to finalise the remaining tasks by the end of January. These final touches include the construction of a utility room, installation of lighting, CCTV cameras, and public address systems.
Overall, this innovative project is a testament to the city's commitment to sustainability and preserving its natural beauty while providing the public with a unique urban experience.
Source: Indian Express
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