Mumbai: The opening of the city’s first elevated nature trail walkway at Malabar Hill has been delayed until next month due to the implementation of visitor regulation measures. To ensure smooth operations and avoid overcrowding, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has directed the Information Technology (IT) department to develop an electronic crowd management system.
This system will help monitor and regulate the number of visitors, as the walkway has a capacity to accommodate up to 400 people at a time.
This is the first-of-its-kind walkway that Mumbai will have that goes through a forest. Once opened, the walkway will be an iconic tourist attraction, offering stunning views of Girgaum Chowpatty. Spanning 470 meters in length and 2.4 meters in width, it features an elevated wooden deck, railings, and vertical supports, with plans for full illumination.
The civic body has also install CCTV near the walkway for surveillance. The BMC also plans to charge a fee for access, although details have not been finalised, according to civic sources. Originally scheduled to open in mid-January, the opening has been postponed until next month to install measures that prioritise safety and ensure a seamless experience for visitors.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, "The walkway has the capacity to hold 400 people at a time, and in case of overcrowding, it may collapse. Therefore, I have instructed the IT department to develop an electronic mechanism to control the crowd and freeze entry once the limit is reached. The gate will only open when the first 400 people exit. This will take another 15 days after which the walkway can be opened for visitors."
Restrictions will be imposed on carrying food while using the walkway, as it may attract monkeys. Visitors will only be allowed to carry water bottles, according to sources. The walkway is being built at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The tenders for this project were awarded in the year 2021.
