Plans to give Dadar beach a makeover finally in place: Hindustan Times

A promenade, a walkway and jogging track, tetrapods and palm trees could be among the many things that will soon adorn Dadar Chowpatty. The BMC and the state maritime board are ready with a design for the makeover of the waterfront — on the lines of Marine Drive, Worli sea face and Carter Road. MUMBAI: The beach along the sea at Dadar chowpatty is set to get a makeover. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with the state maritime board has readied a design for a promenade, a walkway and a jogging track, among other amenities at the beach.

As part of the beautification plan, the beach will also have tetrapods placed at the promenade and palm trees planted in the vicinity.

The waterfront makeover will be on the lines of Marine Drive in Churchgate, Worli Seaface and Carter Road in Bandra. The two-km stretch from Chaityabhoomi to Mahim will have a cycling track, fancy street art furniture and dedicated space for the senior citizens and children.

“The maritime board has already put up tetrapods at the location. Work on the other amenities will begin soon. The design for the makeover is currently being finalised,” said Pallavi Darade, additional municipal commissioner (city).

Residents have for long been demanding that the authorities beautify the beach. However, the beautification project was delayed by multiple authorities for nearly four years.

The civic body has now agreed to take up the job. “There is an urgent need to beautify the beach considering soil erosion and flooding issues in the locality on high-tide days. Local citizen groups have been complaining that the beach is disappearing owing to soil erosion. This situation can prove hazardous for buildings in the vicinity,” said a senior civic official.

A plan is also being worked out on how to manage huge crowds during festivals such as Ganesh visarjan and Chhat Puja, civic officials said.

Ashok Rawat, president, G-north Citizens Forum, said, “We have put forward our suggestions and problems faced several times. But the authorities had never addressed them. The tetrapods too have been haphazardly laid. There is a clear lack of co-ordination between the agencies, as multiple authorities such as the maritime board, the BMC and the collector’s office involved in the process are pointing fingers at each other.”

MNS cor porator Sandip Deshpande said, “A meeting with residents was recently held to discuss the beautification project. The Dadar chowpatty makeover will change the look of the area and will attract more crowds than before. The chowpatty had lost visitors owing to poor facilities and maintenance.”