Changing City: Mumbai’s first elevated forest walkway to be ready by year-end

The elevated forest walkway in Malabar Hill is being built at a cost of Rs 25 crore by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

3 min readMumbaiNov 22, 2024 01:58 PM IST

The entry and exit points of the trail will be at Siri Road, right behind Kamala Nehru Park from where it will extend up to 705 metres within the Malabar Hill forest, providing an unhindered view of the Arabian Sea.

Taking inspiration from similar projects elsewhere around the world, Mumbai will soon have its own elevated forest walkway. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hopes to open the walkway around New Year.

The project

In a bid to boost tourism and provide city residents with a unique walking experience, the BMC is constructing its first elevated forest walkway in Malabar Hill. Inspired by Singapore’s elevated forest walkways, which are crowdpullers, this project will traverse through the Malabar Hill forest area, extending from Kamala Nehru Park to the woods of Doongerwadi.

In a bid to boost tourism and provide city residents with a unique walking experience, the BMC is constructing its first elevated forest walkway in Malabar Hill.

Features

The walkway deck is made of wood and the entire structure relies on minimal usage of concrete to ensure that the natural flow of water through the hill slopes as well as wildlife movement is interrupted.

Current status, cost and timeline

The walkway is being built at a cost of Rs 25 crore. At present, 90 per cent of the civil works are complete and the BMC intends to open the project to the public around New Year. Ancillary works like electrification, painting, and building restrooms and ticket counters are underway.

The walkway will also have a birdwatching zone and a glass-bottom viewing deck.

The tender for this project was awarded in 2021 for Rs 22 crore and civil works began in 2022. The amount went up to Rs 25 crore after taking into account various taxes, including GST. Considering that Malabar Hill is a silent zone, construction works could be taken up only during limited hours in the day, and hence the project took more than two years.

Administration speaks

“This walkway project will boost tourism and give Mumbaikars a new spot for their morning and evening walks. The path will be wheelchair friendly and will provide an unhindered view of Girgaon Chowpatty and the Arabian Sea. Not a single tree has been cut for constructing this project,” said a senior civic official associated with the project.

Pratip Acharya

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

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