MUMBAI: A controversial proposal to widen Siri Road at Malabar Hill by using a portion of the land reserved for Kamala Nehru Park will come up for consideration at the BMC general body meeting on October 23, reviving concerns over the loss of green space and the impact on trees and water pipelines.
The meeting will consider a proposal seeking permission to construct and use a road on land designated as a recreation ground and reserved for Kamala Nehru Park, along Chiranjilal Loyalka Marg, popularly known as Siri Road.
The proposal seeks to open the existing stretch between Kamala Nehru Park on BG Kher Marg and Tambe Chowk to light four-wheelers. Civic officials had argued that widening the road could ease congestion on Walkeshwar Road, Teen Batti and BG Kher Road, while reducing travel time and fuel consumption.
However, the proposal had earlier faced opposition from the BMC’s Improvement Committee. In a resolution dated December 29, 2015, the committee recommended that it be shelved, citing the need to protect the historic park, the absence of traffic congestion at the location, the potential impact on trees and the risk of damaging water connections supplying South Mumbai. It also called for a geological survey of the site.
According to the original civic proposal, the 535-metre Siri Road stretch comprises an existing footpath and an asphalt road. The plan envisaged widening sections of the road, including a stretch from around 14 feet to 25 feet. The proposed alignment would require 2,540.55 sq metres of land designated for the park and recreational ground.
The project was estimated to affect 72 trees, of which 48 would have to be felled and 24 transplanted. The proposed widening would also require the demolition of part of the park’s boundary wall, while some shops near Tambe Chowk could be affected.
The proposal has triggered opposition from some local residents.
Local resident Sanjay Shirke has urged the authorities to protect the area’s forest-like character and stop the road project. “A Chipko-style protest had earlier stopped the road project at Siri Road, after which a nature trail was developed for visitors to enjoy the area’s forest-like surroundings. Now, efforts are reportedly being revived to build the road. We want the natural character of this green space to be preserved and the road project stopped,” he said.
The original proposal, moved by the municipal commissioner in October 2015, had stated that the road would serve the public interest by improving connectivity. The project was also subject to approvals from the relevant coastal zone, heritage conservation and tree authorities.
The October 23 meeting will bring the proposal back before the civic body for consideration.
