Matunga Residents Save Heritage Footpaths from Concreting Threat

Five Gardens, Matunga: Residents of the Five Gardens area in Matunga have successfully prevented the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from concreting the heritage footpaths made of 100-year-old basalt stones. The footpaths in the locality are listed as heritage sites, and residents were determined to preserve the historical stones.

Initially, there were plans to concretize the footpaths, a move residents strongly opposed. Local resident Darayus Bacha shared, “We wanted to preserve the 100-year-old rocks and objected to the concreting proposal. After a meeting with BMC officials, we were assured that only ramps will be added for disabled access, not concrete."

The BMC, represented by Assistant Engineer Kiran Badgujar, clarified that the decision was made after an NGO focused on increasing accessibility for disabled individuals approached them with a proposal to install ramps. These ramps, designed to make the footpaths more accessible, will not harm the basalt rocks, as shown in a PowerPoint presentation during the meeting. Further discussions will determine the locations for the ramps.

For now, the iconic footpaths remain safe from any disruption, and the focus will remain on enhancing accessibility without compromising the area's historical integrity.