A beautiful wooded path on Malabar Hill, in a state of ruin due to the apathy of its caretakers.
Siri Road (named due to the stairway connecting Ridge Road to Babulnath), has been in a state of neglect since a few years. This once-gorgeous, tree-lined, pedestrian path has been allowed to go to seed by the BMC’s agencies who pass the buck when it comes to maintaining it. Its woody areas are ridden by garbage and debris, and in need of a massive clean-up job. The area needs urgent attention. Repeat complaints by concerned residents to the civic authorities have gone unheard. Mismanagement of the road’s upkeep has led to its steady decline.
In 2022, work on the Treetop Walkway project began on the hillside adjoining Siri Road. Heavy construction equipment was plied back and forth on the small path for it. Last month, we noticed some of the stone tiles uprooted, the stairway coming apart, and the road caving in on certain sections. Moreover, these tiles, which help pedestrians find a firm grip while walking on the incline portions of the road, were being dug out and replaced with granite stone. A material inappropriate for this location, especially, in the monsoon. Due to this, pedestrians including senior citizens and children, were slipping on it and getting injured. We shared the information and photos with the BMC and the Treetop Walkway project personnel. A response from them is yet awaited. We hope swift action is taken to address our concerns, and Siri Road is restored to its former glory.
Contributed by Pervin Sanghvi, C4D Consultant, Environmentalist, Co-founder ‘Save Hanging Garden’ campaign
