Width of road proposed to be reduced drastically (from 27.45mt to 17mt) in new DP from Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti Junction
In our previous August and October 2024 issues, we published developing a beautiful, gorgeous waterfront along Walkeshwar Road in two separate articles.
Part 1: Promenade from Band Stand to Fionica building also providing parking and widening of road.
Part 2: Park from Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti junction and proposed road widening and providing car parking,
Both plans were conceptualized by well-known architect and consulting engineer Shri Jashwant Mehta, who is also resident of Malabar Hill. It contains detailed drawings with technical analysis. The plans also considered increased parking requirements and, more importantly, the widening of the existing Walkeshwar Road. Of course, the implementation of the suggested proposals needs to be paid serious attention by municipal corporation and urban development department of Govt of Maharashtra.
However, while studying Development Plan for these articles Shri Jashwant Mehta was quite surprised to notice that the width of Walkeshwar Road which was proposed 27.45mt from Chowpatti Bandstand to Teen Batti junction as per DP of 1991 and also earlier DP has been reduced to mere 17mt in width from Rajbhavan front gate near Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti junction. This has been done under 2018 notification by Government.
It is indeed shocking that the proposed width of this stretch of road which is about 550 to 600 mt road has been drastically reduced. While the traffic has increased significantly in the last two decades the municipal corporation rather than taking steps to widen it on contrary proposed to reduce it to mere 17mt. With several redevelopment proposals already under progress with higher F.S. I. and with increasing number of vehicles every year this will become a nightmare. Teen Batti junction, which is already a sever bottleneck, will be literally a chaos.
Walkeshwar Road is an important arterial road leading to Raj Bhavan, Hanging Garden, Kamala Nehru Park, and the residences of all cabinet ministers. Besides Teen Batti is an important junction with 5 roads intersection.
We have received number of letters from our readers which are published herewith on the next page.
It is earnestly hoped that our popular MLA Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha who has been elected record seven times from this constituency and who has been active in resolving local issues will take initiative with the administration to address the situation in the best interest of citizen to restore the proposed road width and avoid the Walkeshwar road and Teen Batti junction from becoming a permanent nightmare for the residents.
To, Mr. Tushar Prabhoo, Editor, The Voice of Malabar Hills Email: themalabarhilss@gmail.com
I have read the 2 articles written by Architect Shri Jashwant Mehta in your Aug-2024 & Oct -2024 editions. The suggestions if implemented will undoubtedly be most useful for residents of Malabar hills and will also enhance the aesthetic value of the locality. However, for implementation of such suggestions it is necessary for all the residents of the localities to come together and make forceful presentations to concerned authorities including MLA etc. representing the Malabar hill constituency
I stay near Chowpatty bandstand, and I had always carried an impression that proposed width of Road of Malabar hill is 27.45 mts. from Chowpatty to Teen Batti Junction. However, as mentioned in the article it is reduced to 17 Mts. from Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti Junction. This would be certainly a retro gate step. In fact it is totally apathy on the part of govt. that for so many years they have not taken any steps to widen the road to 27.45 as proposed but all of a sudden they have reduced it to 17 mts. Most of this stretch of this land belongs to Govt. and has now width has been arbitrarily reduced to mere 17 mts which is totally against interest of Malabar Hill residents. This must be opposed tooth and nails by all the residents and see that width of 27.45 mts is restored and take steps to widen the Walkeshwar Road till Teen batti Junction.
It seems some construction activity is already being noticed near Teen Batti junction and we should make sure that this will not affect widening of road to 27.45 mts as planned and reflected in 1991 & earlier DP’s.
By Architect Vimal Thakkar ; vhthakkar5002@gmail.com
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To, Mr. Tushar Prabhoo, Editor, The Voice of Malabar Hills
This refers to two very timely articles published in your News Magazine “The voice of Malabar Hills” namely
1). “Harnessing the full potential of Mumbai’s most scenic waterfront Part-I” on (August -2024) – Regarding constructing a deck which could include a promenade & widening of road and also provide for 200 Car Parking and
2). “Part II” on (October -2024) – Regarding planning a park on Govt. land which is simply idling and erecting a deck to accommodate for widening of Walkeshwar Road on a stretch of road from Afghan Consulate till Teen Batti Junction. Both proposals require serious consideration by the Municipal Corporation and State Government as both these proposals if implemented will greatly enhance the aesthetic as well as basic requirements of Malabar & Cumballa Hill residents.
It was also shocking to learn that the width of Walkeshwar Road which was 27.45 mts has been reduced under 2018 notification to mere 17 mts from Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti Junction. What is the logic when this particular stretch has heavy vehicular traffic and is already so congested and Teen Batti junction (serving 5 roads all carrying heavy traffic) is virtually a bottle neck?
Regards, Dr. Quresh Maskati, qureshmaskati@gmail.com
President, AIOS & Ex-President, All India Ophthalmologists Society.
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To, Mr. Tushar Prabhoo, Editor, The Voice of Malabar Hills
This refers to two of the recent articles published in your News Magazine “The Voice of Malabar Hills” namely “Harnessing the full potential of Mumbai’s most scenic waterfront Part-I” in August-2024 & “Harnessing full potential of Mumbai’s most scenic waterfront – Part II” in October-2024. While both these proposals would go a long way in upgrading Walkeshwar Road scenic beauty and could also provide for badly needed widening for Walkeshwar Road.
I was shocked to learn that the road width from Afghan Consulate till Teen Batti Junction (Which is about 550 to 600 mts stretch) which was proposed 27.45 mts in 1991 D.P has been now reduced to 17 mts as per 2018 notification of Govt of Maharashtra. While almost entire stretch of this part is abutting the government land, this could be exploited by developers on couple of private properties at Teen Batti Junction.
The Walkeshwar road is the most prominent road and it is the most popular main excess for all the VIPs residing on Malabar Hill area. It is also the main arterial road for the residents of Walkeshwar road, Ridge road and Nepean Sea Road.
The traffic is very dense on this road specially in the morning & evening hours. It is also observed that whenever any VVIPs travel on this road, many a times, the traffic police stops the traffic from the opposite side to make more convenient travelling for VVIPs, putting the residents to suffer and this has now become a routine system for them.
As the road width is narrowed, the Bikers/Scooters are seen traveling in the opposite sides, which makes very dangerous for the cars owners to drive their vehicles to avoid the accidents.
All the above problems, can easily be set corrected by increasing the road width from present 17 mtrs to 27.45 mtrs as per the proposed DP plans of 1991.
In my opinion, all the residents need to come together and voice jointly our grievances and put forward our proposals to the authorities, ASAP, right after the new Govt. is formed.
By Shri Pradip Sanghrajka ; psanghra@gmail.com
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To, Mr. Tushar Prabhoo, Editor, The Voice of Malabar Hills
Suggestions made by Shri Jashwant Mehta in his 2 Articles:
Having a promenade similar to a Marine Drive to be constructed from Band Stand to Fionica building also providing adequate for parking and proposed widening of road to 27.45 Mts as per DP.
Having a park in the totally unutilised space of Govt property from Afghan Consulate to Teen Batti junction and constructing deck to provide proposed road widening to 27.45 Mts and also provide additional space for parking, if implemented will go a long way in enhancing this vital road.
However, it is quite surprising and indeed shocking that the road width of Walkeshwar road which was proposed to be widened to 27.45 mts has been arbitrarily reduced from Afghan Consulate till Teen Batti Junction to mere 17 Mts. Teen Batti junction is a crucial junction leading to Rajbhawan, the state guest house, Cabinet Ministers residences, Hanging Garden, Kamla Nehru Park, Top business families etc. Even now there is a bottle neck during morning and evening peak hours with more & more new buildings being constructed with higher FSI. In times to come it will be literally a nightmare to travel on this stretch of road, with a width of mere 17 mts. It is a nodal point serving residents of Walkeshwar Road, Ridge Road, Nepean Sea Road, Banganga etc.
While 1991 DP and even in earlier DP the road is proposed to be 27.45 Mts wide and all the buildings constructed from1961 onwards on left side of road on sea side such as Sagar Mahal, Dani Sadan and even Afghan Consulate have all left front open space accordingly.
What is the justification of such a harrowing decision taken by BMC (DP dept, Traffic dept) & UD dept of Govt. of Maharashtra to reduce it to mere 17 mts under 2018 notification? This must be a classic example of complete ignorance of town planning principles when the width of such an important road is reduced while traffic has increased by leaps & bounds.
The widening of road from Afghan Consulate till Teen Batti Junction is also a prime necessity for the implementation of proposed park suggested in the article by Architect Shri Jashwant Mehta. From the knowledge I have gathered plans are approved by BMC for a multi storied building with number of basements right at the junction of Teen Batti based on mere 17 mts proposed width of road.
In my opinion all the residents of Malabar hills need to urgently come together and form an association and it is only through our collective efforts we can bring about necessary public pressure on our elected representatives and the authorities concerned.
Lalit Singhvi, Resident of Malabar Hill. lalitsinghvi@yahoo.com
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