Al fresco dining spaces, cobbled walkways, street art murals and public seating zones will soon line five lanes in South Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda precinct, which has undergone a major makeover and is set to be opened to pedestrians later this month.
The initiative is part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s Kala Ghoda beautification plan aimed at transforming the heritage neighbourhood into a pedestrian-friendly cultural promenade inspired by European walking streets.
In the first phase, five lanes — VB Gandhi Marg (Forbes Street), Ropewalk Lane, Saibaba Road, Rutherfield Street and B Bharucha Road — have been redesigned with cobblestone paving, murals on surrounding walls and street artefacts installed along the pathways.
Officials said the precinct will be declared a no-vehicle zone during weekends, allowing only pedestrians.
Spread across 3,433 square metres, the project includes walking trails along with designated seating and art zones aimed at enhancing the cultural appeal of the heritage neighbourhood.
Kala Ghoda is one of Mumbai’s most prominent heritage precincts and attracts large numbers of visitors throughout the year due to its proximity to landmarks such as the Gateway of India, Jehangir Art Gallery and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
“To prevent vehicles from entering these roads, hydraulic bollards have been installed at the entry points. The idea is to make the streets pedestrian-friendly and give a unique outlook to this heritage precinct,” a civic official said.
The initiative was proposed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar. Narwekar said the concept was inspired by pedestrian-friendly streets such as Buchanan Street in Glasgow and Carnaby Street in London.
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“Initially, the plan is to make this zone pedestrian-only during weekends. Going forward, we may extend it to more days to create a safer and more vibrant public space,” he said, adding that the project will be opened to the public later this month.
In the second phase, an underground parking facility with a capacity of around 200 vehicles will be developed in the area. According to Narwekar, construction of the parking facility is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Work on the project began in December 2025, following a pilot initiative by the BMC to test the feasibility of converting the lanes into pedestrian-friendly spaces.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
