Marine Drive: Heritage panel rejects BMC’s plan to install railings

“The work needs to be undertaken to curb trespassing and avoid accidents. The initiative is in the larger public interest and for public safety,” said a senior official from roads department, adding that two types of designs of railings were submitted to the heritage committee for their approval.

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However, the heritage committee is not convinced with the justification given by the roads department. “Marine Drive is the most prominent heritage promenade in the city and openness is one of the main characters. By installing railings at divider and footpath, the openness would be lost,” said an official from the heritage committee.

Welcoming the heritage committee’s move, Atul Kumar, trustee of the Nariman Point Residents Association, said: “Around six months ago, there was a concrete bollard on the divider in art deco style. But the BMC demolished it. We had strongly objected to demolition but the BMC did not listen to us and even created a problem. Now people are crossing the road from all sides. There is no point in having railings just on one side because people will still cross the road from the other side.”

In January this year, the open air gym, backed by Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray, had to be removed from Marine Drive due to heritage norms. The civic body had given three months’ permission to set up the open air gym at the Marine Drive. However, a High Court-appointed panel had rejected further extension and had asked it be removed by January 31.

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