In a bid to make Dadar’s high-footfall areas more pedestrian-friendly, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to repair and upgrade footpaths along key arterial roads in the G North ward. The project, planned at the ward level, follows an assessment of extensive monsoon-related damage.
The improvement work will cover three major stretches — NC Kelkar Road, which houses Plaza Cinema, Star Mall and the busy Dadar Market junction near Nakshatra Mall; Bhavani Shankar Road, starting from the Kabutarkhana circle; and Gokhale Road, home to the new Dadar Metro station on the Aqua Line. An official from the G North ward in charge of the project said, “The plans for improvement were taken up to address a few immediate concerns regarding the condition of the footpaths, especially now that the monsoon season is over.”
Another stretch of damaged footpath in Dadar
Four key locations suffered severe damage after tree collapses. “Outside Rejoice restaurant on Gokhale Road, a fallen tree caused deep water damage, caving in the footpath. Similarly, the pavement outside the Vishwa building nearby was also damaged,” the official said. Several other stretches have loose tiles and cracked surfaces due to water seepage. “In some places, the tiles sink or splash water when stepped on,” the official added.
BMC workers repair a damaged footpath in Dadar
Unlike roads, footpath repairs are not covered under the defect liability clause with contractors. Hence, BMC has identified these repairs as post-monsoon priority work. Temporary patchwork has already been done to reduce risks to pedestrians. “But full-scale repairs will use M25 or M40 grade concrete for durability, given the area’s heavy foot traffic,” the official said. M25 is a standard grade for regular RCC work, while M40 is a high-strength grade used for specialised urban infrastructure.
