BMC opens pedestrian walkways, garden and 3D mural under Princess Street flyover

The space under the Princess Street flyover on Shamaldas Gandhi Marg in south Mumbai has been turned into a pedestrian-friendly area. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has added dedicated walkways, gardens, plants and decorative lighting.

The redeveloped stretch was inaugurated on Tuesday, November 3, by Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker and local MLA Rahul Narwekar. The work was done under the civic body's "Pedestrian First" initiative, which aims to improve pedestrian safety, reduce crowding and make footpaths easier to use across the city.

Earlier, there was no proper footpath for people using E Road and H Road under the flyover. Pedestrians had to walk on the main carriageway, which raised safety concerns and also affected the movement of traffic.

The situation was harder on H Road, which is about four metres wide. Public infrastructure there, including toilets, a municipal bank and a solid waste management facility, had reduced the walking space further. The BMC relocated the structures that were causing obstruction and redeveloped the remaining space into dedicated walking routes.

The project includes a 150-metre footpath along E Road and a winding walkway of about 100 metres along H Road. These improvements make walking under the flyover safer and easier.

The BMC has not only improved access but also worked to beautify the entire 250-metre stretch. A landscaped garden with new plants has been created under the flyover. As the area gets little natural sunlight, the civic body chose plants that can grow well in low light. An automatic drip irrigation system has also been installed for the long-term upkeep of the garden.

A distinctive feature of the redevelopment is a 3D mural of about 400 square metres on the wall next to E Road. The artwork adds colour and visual appeal to a part of the area that had been overlooked. Decorative lamp posts have also been installed along the route to improve lighting and enhance the overall look of the space.

The project also has a multipurpose structure of about 45 square metres. It will house a caretaker's room, storage space and a security post, which will help with the maintenance and safety of the landscaped area. According to the civic body, suggestions and feedback from local residents were considered during planning and execution.

Those present at the inauguration included C and D Ward Committee chairman Akash Purohit, local corporator Rita Makwana, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone 1) Chanda Jadhav and C Ward Assistant Commissioner Sunil Mane. Local residents also attended. They spoke to elected representatives and civic officials and shared their views on the new space.

The redevelopment is part of the BMC's larger "Pedestrian First" campaign, which is being run under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. The campaign focuses on removing unauthorised hawkers and encroachments from footpaths so that pedestrians get an unobstructed and safe space. With new footpaths, greenery, public facilities and better lighting, the project aims to address a long-standing problem faced by pedestrians in south Mumbai.