Mumbai’s Bandra Fort to be beautified starting March

Project, which has been in the pipeline for some time, is expected to cost around Rs19 crore

htmetro@hindustantimes.com

The BMC said the project has been delayed due to the removal of encroachments and getting approvals from different departments (HT FILE)

Mumbai: After finally zeroing in on a plan for beautification of Bandra Fort area, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expected to start work on the project by March. Only the project’s budget estimate, which may be around Rs19 crore, is to be finalised, said officials.

The BMC’s facelift plan for Bandra’s heritage site includes a beautified entrance to the Fort area, sitting areas in the garden and a cycle track on the Fort side leading toward Taj Lands End hotel. Municipal architect Surendra Borale told HT, “There will also be an information board for beautification in the garden area. The plan does not involve any construction work. We are only doing landscape work.”

Tender for the work will be floated by second week of January and beautification work is expected to begin by March end.

The BMC razed illegal structures encroaching on garden space in the last few months and plans to merge the two gardens for full usage of 26,000 square metres of open space, said officials of the H/W ward.

“We have not gotten approval to build any promenade on the sea side as it is under coastal regulation zone,” added Borale. The civic body’s earlier drafts of the plan had a promenade connecting Bandra Fort to Bandstand.

Speaking about the year-long delay in the project, additional municipal commissioner Idzes Kundan said, “Removal of encroachment and getting all approvals from different departments caused delays. But it is a priority project now as we want it to be an ideal attraction spot for visitors. There will be limited concretisation as we want to retain the natural space.”