Public gets ‘custody’ of renovated space under Ferguson flyover
Mumbai Mile Regeneration Association (MMRA), a non-profit entity, inaugurated phase one of a beautified space under the Ferguson flyover in Lower Parel on Tuesday. The project is done in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Mumbai Police, Mumbai Traffic Police and other private players.
The 1.3 mile stretch, from Karmaveer Vithalrao Yadav Chowk to the end of the Ferguson flyover, was inaugurated by member of legislative assemby Sunil Govind Shinde and handed over to the city locals in the presence of Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G South ward, Devendra Kumar Jain.
Shinde said, "I was initially apprehensive about the project since there was no proper dialogue. But as I weighed the benefits for locals and pedestrians, I agreed to lend a helping hand. Ultimately, it is all about decongesting the city."
The phase one of the project is of 250 meters, which covers the northern arm of the Ferguson flyover, has facilities and amenities including taxi bays on both sides of the under flyover to drop their passengers safely instead in the middle of the road. “There are also Uturn relocations that will ease traffic chaos. Besides that, the peripheries will have plants which are capable of mitigating pollution and stave off mosquitoes as well,” said Sanjay Toshniwal, co-promoter of MMRA.
The project has been designed by Studio Pomegranate, an independent new-age architecture firm that believes in integrated collaborative design. “The new space increases pedestrian crossings, making existing crossings safe, accessible, adding public toilets, and dustbins in consultation with Mumbai Traffic Police," said Pranav Naik of Studio Pomegranate.
The plan is to complete the whole two kilometer stretch of flyover by the end of the year.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC's G South ward, Devendra Kumar Jain, said, "All of us expect Mumbai to be a better place to live and hence it is upon us to have a collective consciousness and work towards the betterment of the city.”