Rs 7.8 cr for promenade at Bandra

The city's skyline may soon get another iconic structure. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will start work on a Rs 7.8 crore Bandra Reclamation promenade programme, which will include a 22-metre viewing tower called the Sheesh Mahal, and a 1.25-km-long, 40-metre-wide promenade that will depict the seven eras of Mumbai's history, from the Ashokan period to the post-Independence period. Zeeshan Shaikh reports.

The city's skyline may soon get another iconic structure.

HT Image

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will start work on a Rs 7.8 crore Bandra Reclamation promenade programme, which will include a 22-metre viewing tower called the Sheesh Mahal, and a 1.25-km-long, 40-metre-wide promenade that will depict the seven eras of Mumbai's history, from the Ashokan period to the post-Independence period.

In line with its plans to beautify the 1.25-km stretch from the Mahim interchange to the Bandra-Worli sea link approach road, MSRDC had floated tenders for the project.

With bidders often backing out at the last minute, the project had been on hold for a long while.

Now, MSRDC has finally narrowed down on whom it will select for the beautification project.

"DB Realty will be undertaking this project, which will cost Rs 7.8 crore. They will pay us Rs 99 lakh every year for 15 years, and will maintain the site after it completion," MSRDC's Superintending Engineer Vivek Ghanekar said.

According to the plans, the promenade will have a 22-metre tower called the Sheesh Mahal, to be made entirely of glass, and located at the entrance of the promenade at the Mahim interchange.

It will serve as both a lighthouse and a viewing tower.

The 1.25-km promenade will then be divided into seven decks representing the seven historical eras — the Ashokan, the Silharas (3rd to 8th centuries), the Chalukyas (9th to 12th centuries), the Mohammedans of Gujarat (13th to 15th centuries), the Portuguese and Marathas (16th and 17th centuries), British (17th to 19th centuries) and the post-Independence period.

Each deck will have a column, which will have a visual and textual description of that era and its history inscribed on steel plaques.

The promenade will also have a Bollywood Celebrity Walk, modelled on the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

MSRDC officials said work on the project will be completed by January 2011.