TIMES CITY >> Promenades, Plazas THE TIMES OF INDIA, MUMBAI | FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 PROMENADES & PLAZAS | BEACHES | RIVERS & NULLAHS | MANGROVES, CREEKS & WETLANDS | LAKES, PONDS & TANKS | PARKS, GARDENS, RECREATION & PLAYGROUNDS Uma Kadam Linah Baliga | TNN the state government’s initiative would give Mumbaikars a wel- ome June and Mum- come bayside area to escape the baikars who visit the daily grind, with a view of the ca- Bandra-Worli sea link ble-stayed sea link to boot. Offi- C for a drive will have cials said the contract has been BAYSIDE PROMENADE more options for leisure and recre- awarded to D B Realty,which will ation. A Rs 9-crore promenade is maintain the promenade for 15 expected to open on the Bandra ap- years and pay Rs 99 lakh a year to proach to the iconic bridge, giving MSRDC. While facilities will be the suburb another public space free for the public, the plan allows IS SEA LINK’S LATEST FEATURE to add to its kitty. the firm to rent out 62 plaques for The promenade along Mahim advertising. Bay will extend from the cause- Till about two years ago, the 1.5Km Green Strip Along Mahim Bay Will Have way to the sea link and aims to corporation was maintaining the cater to all age groups. It will house garden along the approach to the Bollywood Celebrity Walk, Open-Air Theatres, a jogging track, a meditation zone, sea link at Bandra Reclamation. an open-air theatre, a sundial am- But the MSRDC later decided to phitheatre, a Saptdeep Stambh (or outsource the space to a private Jogging Track, Picnic Spot And More seven columns depicting the sev- player to develop into a prome- en islands that formed Mumbai) nade. The promenade will stretch and a Bollywood celebrity walk. for approximately 1.5km and will A Bastion of Eternity, yet to be be up to 40m wide. built, will depict a fort-like struc- “The best part about this prom- ture at the sea-link end of the enade is that there are no entry promenade. fees,” said Nandakumar Gavkar, Maharashtra State Road De- executive engineer, MSRDC. velopment Corporation (MSRDC) “There will also be an eating area, officials said that seating areas like a picnic spot, where people and sit-outs are also part of the can bring food to eat.” plans. A median of the promenade, The MSRDC plans to lend a por- called the Silver Drive, will have tion to the Bandra Reclamation plants that reflect silver light. Area Volunteers Organisation If all goes according to plan, (Bravo) for cultural activities. LEISURE BY THE BAY Key features: Jogging track | Waterfront length: 1.5km Meditation area | Open-air theatre | Makeover cost: Rs 9 crore Sundial amphitheatre | Saptdeep Expected completion date: June Stambh (seven columns depicting the 2012 seven islands that formed Mumbai | Development & maintenance: D B Bollywood celebrity walk | Bastion of Realty for 15 years, with MSRDC Eternity | Sit-outs | Silver Drive, with being paid Rs 99 lakh a year plants reflecting silver light Open space Bandra’s ‘democratic’ seafronts exhibits give are cosmopolitan Hemant Shirodkar hope of better Linah Baliga | TNN remember singer Shaan performing and that children with bare feet came city: CM ho would think that and started dancing with him. All com- Linah Baliga | TNN the fate of a ship munities and people use such kind of called the MV Zhen spaces. These promenades are for peo- his exhibition shows us a Mumbai Don would get tied ple from across all classes who have which we did not know existed. It has up with the quality existed cheek by jowl.” given us hope and we can implement Wof life in not just Bandra but all of Apart from creating public spaces Tsome of the ideas with political will. It Mumbai? Back in the late 1990s, the for everyone, Bandra’s promenades is possible to reclaim the lost glory of the city.” ship carrying oil and sludge was have also improved the quality of life These were the words of chief minister Prithvi- grounded off Carter Road. Plans to for locals. The Celebrate Bandra festi- raj Chavan at the inauguration of the Open turn it into a floating hotel (floatel) val would not have been possible with- Mumbai exhibition at the National Gallery of drew wide protests from local residents, out the Land’s End restoration and its Modern Art (NGMA) on Friday. who moved court and won the battle amphitheatre and the Bandstand prom- The exhibition highlights the tragedy of to preserve the coastline. enade. For residents, it is a coming to- Mumbai’s shrinking open spaces and seeks to Since then, it has been more or less gether of past and present. “It has pro- generate a dialogue between citizens, the gov- smooth sailing for the Bandra West vided space for cultural activities in ernment, professionals and organizations that Residents’ Association (BWRA), which Bandra. It was like further enhancing work for social, cultural and environmental has developed and maintained the the use of that space,” says D’Monte. change. The exhibition, hosted by the Union Carter Road promenade, and the Ban- The upkeep of the promenades is ministry of culture, NGMA, the Mumbai Wa- dra Bandstand Residents’ Trust (BBRT), not easy,and the generosity of corpo- terfronts Centre and architect P K Das and As- which developed the Bandstand wa- rate sponsors and others has to be re- sociates, focuses on redefining the notion of open terfront and restored Land’s End. lied on. “We have sponsors. We spend spaces to go beyond gardens and recreational What the residents have done is nearly a lakh a month,” says Roshan grounds. It proposes the effective use of all nat- create public spaces that are not ex- Dabhoiwala of BWRA. “Rs 30,000 is ural assets, including rivers, mangroves, creeks, clusive. People from all walks of life, spent only on the gardens along the Hemant Shirodkar communities and cultures avail of promenade. Recently,we revamped the LABOURS OF LOVE: Constant upkeep and maintenance by residents have been key to preserving the beauty and lushness of these seaside havens. The promenades children’s play area. New equipment Bandra’s popular seafront promenades are “democratic”, which is the qual- has been installed — swings, slides, ity architect P K Das feels open spaces seesaws, a merry-go-round.” The spon- we wouldn’t want to make use of any in Mumbai should have. The resi- sors are now planning to put in Disney The Carter Road The promenades politician’s funds. Had we collected dents, with help from the Mumbai Wa- figures and 12 new benches. She says promenade is have quadrupled funds on our own, they wouldn’t have terfronts Centre and others, trans- private firms, the BMC, ONGC etc have like an enclave, traffic flow into been misused. So that’s a lesson we formed areas that were virtually be- all been chipping in to help. have learnt,” says Thakoor. ing used as dumping grounds. Today, The maintenance of the Bandstand which gives it its Bandra from neighbouring The extended promenade boasts joggers, walkers, senior citizens, fam- promenade is entirely managed by the special character. There are areas, because all want to use chess tables and a gazebo, which pro- ilies, evening strollers, couples, chil- BBRT. It costs Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 a not too many places where the promenades in the vides underprivileged children a place dren and youths get to enjoy the beau- month and the residents raise the funds to study and shelter during the mon- tified shoreline. by collecting Rs 20 a month from them- women can go alone easily. evenings. Consequently, soon. Lighting is battery operated. “We Old-timers say the Carter Road selves. Corporates look after the gar- But at this promenade, they Bandra’s roads, already wanted to regularize the drying area promenade is a unique example of a dens, but security and maintenance is have forged friendships. burdened by traffic, get choked. for fishermen, but we couldn’t hold GREENING THE BIG CITY: (From left) Former MP four-corner relationship that worked completely in the residents’ hands. From a gender perspective, Also, I dislike that a good clean talks with them,” says Thakoor. Shabana Azmi and chief minister Prithviraj with no help from the BMC or the state. The BWRA manages the Carter Das, who designed the major prom- Chavan with architect P K Das, who on Thursday It was a partnership between citizens, Road promenade from Otter’s Club to it is important, as the open space like the Carter Road enades, says, “People of all classes in- described proposals for expanding Mumbai’s an MP,design professionals and a com- the amphitheatre, but a motley band promenade allows promenade is used for termingle and share the spaces equal- public spaces at the launch of the Open Mumbai mercial agency. of residents formed the Khar-Bandra- women to music performances ly.This has contributed enormously to exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art The promenade opened in January Santacruz (KBS) Foundation in 2009 to congregate in the community life of the area and 2002 and recently completed a decade. extend the promenade to Khar Danda and plays. I prefer if their cultural and social life as well. ponds, wetlands and beaches. BWRA chairperson Darryl D’Monte (another 150 metres). Apart from be- public that is done in For example, slumdwellers, fisher-folk, “Mumbai’s Development Plan (DP) will be notes, “Unlike many other open spaces, ing a recreational centre, “it’s a great auditoriums women, children and senior citizens finalized in a couple of years.