Broader walkway for Mahalaxmi temple

There is good news for the Mahalaxmi Temple devotees, who have to suffer a lot while reaching the temple for darshan due to continuous heavy traffic at Bhulabhai Desai road. The BMC has decided to construct 240 metre stilted walkway along the proposed west cost road.

Mahalaxmi Temple is a two hundred years old popular holy temple, located on a hillock which lacks proper access to devotees who throng to the temple. Most of the time, this narrow road is occupied by pedestrians and motorists. There is hardly any space left for devotees to walk on the road. BMC’s road and bridge department has appointed M/s STUP Consultant for designing of the walkway. The project would come up at an estimated cost of Rs4.5 crore.

According to senior civic officials, the walkway will be another access road to Mahalaxmi temple. The walkway will connect Malabar Hill to Mahalaxmi Temple at Breach Candy Hospital.

“Presently, there is no space to manoeuvre vehicles at Bhulabhai Desai road. However, the walkway will give enough space to pedestrians and devotees. Even, vertical car parking facility will be developed at this plot,” he said.

“We hope the proposed walkway will not disturb the ecology of this locality. The area falls under coastal regulation zone. So, we will seek the ministry of environment’s permission,” said an official on request of anonymity.

Former Congress corporator, Gunvant Seth, welcomed the corporation decision saying it was very much needed.