Forest walkway in Malabar Hill to be ready by December this year

Inspired by Singapore’s elevated forest walkways that are popular crowd-pullers, the BMC proposed the construction of an elevated walkway through the Malabar Hill Forest in 2020.

The tenders for this project was awarded in 2021 for Rs 22 crore, and civil works began in 2022. (Express)

Come December, citizens may be able to experience Mumbai’s first elevated forest walkway through the Malabar Hill forest, if the project by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) remains on track.

According to a civic official, “The civil works are almost complete and ancillary works such as electrification, painting, restrooms and ticket counters are underway. Considering the Assembly elections and staff crunch, the final stretch of work could take two-three months. However, we are hopeful that the walkway could be ready by the end of this year.”

Inspired by Singapore’s elevated forest walkways that are popular crowd-pullers, the BMC proposed the construction of an elevated walkway through the Malabar Hill Forest in 2020.

The tenders for this project was awarded in 2021 for Rs 22 crore, and civil works began in 2022. Initially, the BMC had kept a one-year deadline for the completion of the project, however, civic officials maintained that the project is now 90 per cent complete and is likely to be inaugurated by December this year.

Last week, the BMC floated tender worth Rs 2.43 crore to appoint manpower for maintenance and housekeeping service. “We have floated the latest tender to ensure the manpower is appointed and ready when it is opened for public use. Since the walkway is elevated, security would be of utmost importance,” the official said.

The entry and exit points of the trail will be from Siri Road, behind the Kamala Nehru Park from where the walkway will extend upto 705 metres within the Malabar Hill Forest, providing an unhindered view of the Arabian Sea. The walkway will also have a birdwatching zone and a glass bottom viewing deck.

The walkway deck is being made out of woods and the structure is being constructed with minimum usage of concrete to ensure natural flow of water through the hill slopes is not interrupted and wildlife movement are not affected.

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“Not a single tree was affected for this project and considering this is an eco-sensitive area and as well as a silent zone, we had to carry out the civil works during a stipulated timing, which has led to extension of the deadline by an year,” said the official.

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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