On a new marine drive

Bird's-eye view

Mumbai's crown jewel is getting a fresh coat of paint.

Forget your ordinary everyday seaside morning walk on Marine Drive. Instead, take a walk on the 280-metre Nariman Point breakwater promontory right into the sea and finish your walk at the small stepped amphitheatre at the end of the promontory, all in close communion with the sea.

The crown jewel of Mumbai, the 4.8-km-long Marine Drive, better known as the Queen's Necklace for its shimmering night lights, is getting a makeover after 70 long years.

In an ambitious Rs 150 crore project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is refurbishing the face of this entire stretch all the way from Nariman Point to Chowpatty.

The project envisages, apart from the breakwater promontory, an Art-deco precinct to preserve the city's unique Art-deco buildings constructed in the 1940s by well-heeled Parsis.

Many of these buildings are in bad shape and the state is considering legislation to make it necessary for Marine Drive residents to paint their buildings.

The bill may be tabled in the monsoon session of the legislature. Also on the anvil is a newly refurbished state capital complex with a grand forecourt to provide a backdrop to the Vidhan Sabha and Mantralaya buildings, and an open air theatre at Chowpatty.

In addition, the footpaths, the sea wall and the median on the Marine Drive main thoroughfare are also being redone. Currently, the first phase of the project which costs Rs 30 crore will take care of the sea wall parapet, east-and west-facing footpaths, benches near the bus stops, replacement of medians and pedestrian crossovers.

The sea-wall parapet will be strengthened with concrete tetrapods mounted on a base of rocks and boulders. The vertical concrete wall and the sub-structure of the promenade which are constantly lashed by sea waves will also be repaired.

On the west-facing footpath, the existing flooring of kerb stones will be replaced with granite stone inlays, and on the east-facing footpath flower beds will be put along with SS railings to separate the road from the footpath. A subway will be constructed under the east side footpath too.

The first phase also envisages replacing the existing median with uniform concrete precast which will include pedestrian crossovers. As a part of it, the existing parks at Chowpatty will be integrated.

Along with this, sit-out facilities will be provided under the Princess Street flyover. A low level walkway along the sea wall at the Veer Nariman road intersection is also planned.

The 200-odd trees on Marine Drive will be relocated under the project to the Oval Maidan and will be replaced with soft landscaping, water bodies and sitting areas. The heritage stone structure of Parsi gate pillars and steps will also be refurbished.

Specific lighting fixtures to enhance the architectural and landscaping features of Marine Drive is also a part of the first phase. The contract has been given to the Golani Brothers. The process of demolition of the sea wall has started.

The existing light fixtures will be replaced with new modern fixtures.

The first phase will be completed by February 2007. Tenders for the Rs 120 crore second phase will be invited around September this year and the project is expected to be completed in three years.