DNA Micro Edit: Fergusson flyover revamp sets precedent for city spaces

In a city like Mumbai, where space is at a premium, making use of the area below the flyovers for developing public amenities is a welcome idea. However, the city often loses out on this space due to encroachments by illegal hawkers, beggars, squatters or taxi drivers.

In June 2016, the Nanalal D Mehta Garden was thrown open to the public in Matunga below the Tulpule flyover on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road. Residents in Matunga fought to save the 600-metre stretch below the flyover from encroachers and through crowdfunding managed to deploy security guards to prevent encroachments. After running from pillar to post to get clearances, the residents set up a theme garden below the flyover.

The stretch below the Fergusson flyover on Senapati Bapat Marg often saw traffic snarls due to parked taxis taking up one lane of the narrow road, and the footpaths along the road were in poor condition. The Mumbai Mile project has brought together stakeholders in the area to work towards the beautification of this stretch below the flyover, as well as ease traffic problems by creating dedicated taxi bays. The plan also entails developing an open community space and toilets for the public.

Such initiatives by stakeholders, that seek to make clever use of available spaces for public facilities, should be supported by the BMC and other concerned agencies. Such models, in which stakeholders in a particular area come together and collaborate with urban planners and agencies to create community spaces, can be replicated in other areas as well if all norms are complied with.