Mumbai, Aug 18: South Mumbai's famous Kala Ghoda area will now turn into a "pedestrian only" zone. This scheme will be implemented from the month of September and this will be the first fully pedestrianized area in Mumbai. It is an important part of the Black Horse beautification scheme of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Former BJP corporator Makarand Narvekar said that the area will be kept vehicle-free on Saturday and Sunday evenings. This scheme is being implemented to give people an experience of walking and enjoying art, culture and history. The scheme will be implemented under the leadership of Assembly Speaker and local BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar.
The Kala Ghoda area is home to historical and culturally important places like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Architecture, Jehangir Art Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art, Institute of Contemporary Art and Eliyahu Synagogue. The scheme is expected to increase tourism in the area.
Five internal roads identified for this project are Forbes Street, Rope Walk Lane, Saibaba Road, Rutherfield Street and B Bharucha Road. Cobbled pathways, wall paintings and street art will be installed on these roads. There are already cafes and restaurants here, and new footpaths, paintings, lights and benches will be erected for the residents to enjoy.
Makarand Narvekar mentioned that this vehicle free zone will be implemented on a pilot basis during the weekend to see how the citizens respond to this scheme. Apart from this, RFID based vehicle access will also be provided for senior citizens and people with special needs.
"Pedestrian only is a new concept for the city, and feedback will be taken into consideration to improve the plan," said Narvekar. He hoped that this will give the citizens of Mumbai a great experience in their lives.