27 June,2021 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Jane Borges
The 705-m long elevated wooden walkway, designed by architect Rahul Kadri and his team, is being constructed inside the forest at Malabar Hill. The trail will offer sweeping views of the forest and the Arabian sea. Pics and imaging courtesy/IMK Architects
In the 1970s, when Mumbai was still Bombay, and the idea of a vertical city was yet to catch everyone's imagination, architect Rahul Kadri, then a young boy, fancied a life in the forests of Malabar Hill. Trudging through the kacha pathways inside the green strip, he remembers being blown away by its beauty. The sounds of chirping birds and other elusive creatures, only added to its allure. "Over the years, it became neglected, and started being used by people to brew illicit liquor, earning a shady reputation. At some point, authorities posted guards out there, and later built a gate, in the hope that the illegal activities would stop," says Kadri, about the patch of green that's been locked up, and out of bounds for visitors for over a decade.
During the pandemic-induced lockdown last year, while out on a regular stroll on Siri Road, Kadri managed to sneak inside. The forest was in ruins, but with some intervention, Kadri felt that the trail could be opened up to the public again. "Parts of it were unkempt, of course. There was a little landslide that had occurred, too. But, it was still lovely. I just hoped that it was attended to, and that more people could experience what I was seeing."
That marked the genesis of what is now going to be a first-of-its-kind elevated forest trail in the country.
Spearheaded by architecture and urban design firm IMK Architects in association with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the 705-metre-long elevated treetop walkway at the Malabar Hill forest will allow people to walk through the woods, while enjoying sweeping views of the sea. The project is expected to cost Rs 10 crore, and is currently awaiting a green signal from the state authorities.
Kadri says that after his visit to the stretch, he approached the Nepean Sea Road Citizens' Forum (NSRCF), of which he is a founding member. "They were all enthused by the idea, and encouraged me to take it forward."
He was, however, fully aware of the challenges that lay before him. "In the past, I have made a lot of plans, and nothing came of them. This time, somehow, everyone seemed excited," says Kadri, who is partner and principal architect at IMK Architects, founded by his famous architect father, IM Kadri.
Things started moving when Mukul Mehra, secretary of the NSCRF, secured an appointment with Aaditya Thackeray, Minister of Tourism and Environment, who later visited the site. "Nobody could believe that a 12.5-acre forest existed in the middle of the city. It has somehow survived from a couple of centuries ago, and is possibly the only strip that remains alongside the one at the Tower of Silence [near Malabar Hill]. It's a quirk of luck, I suppose," Kadri feels.
Initially planned as a project driven by citizens, Kadri was backed by Sangita Jindal, chairperson, JSW Foundation, who funded the preliminary work on the drawings and designs, which were then presented to the state authorities, for a go-ahead.
After a lot of back and forth, and creative deliberation, involving Prashant Gaikwad, the assistant commissioner, D Ward, and P Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner, Kadri and his team, comprising Harish Vyas, Bhumika Ganjawala and Heena Sheik, suggested that they "don't repair the existing walkway, as that could lead to people straying off the path". "There are birds, snakes and other creatures in the area, and if people walk on the forest floor, it could disturb their movement after a long break of solitude. I was also worried about the storm water. It's a steep hillside; if we made drains there, the hydraulic nature of the place could change."
An elevated walkway could circumvent these problems. The trail will start at a bend of Siri Road opposite the Malabar Hill Club (formerly WIAA Club) and end at the base of the Walkeshwar Road.
The existing design incorporates only one concrete foundation, with two steel pillars that will come out at an angle to support the raised wooden walkway. "This will keep the intervention to the forest floor at the minimum, and will also make it easy to maintain." While one side will be on a rocky incline, the other, will be towards a deep valley.
For the wooden deck, Kadri has opted for sal wood. "We looked at all kinds of wood, but we wanted something that was available locally. Sal has been used by the Indian Railways, as well. We consulted with several experts on wood, before zeroing in on it." Kadri says that they opted for steel columns over concrete, because the latter wears off after 20-30 years, and would require extensive repair. "Steel members can be easily replaced." Apart from the walkway, the trail will also be interspersed with viewing decks, benches and a glass bottom look-out zone.
One of the major aspects of the design is to construct the structure without damaging a single tree in the forest. That's not going to be a challenge, thinks Kadri. "There are two existing on-ground trails, which though in a bad state, have no trees growing on them. What we are doing, as far as possible, is following these. There are some areas where these trails have collapsed completely, and so, here, we will have to build [the walkway] through the trees, but we will definitely not be cutting anything," he assures.
The plan is to keep the walkway open from sunrise to sunset. "In the night, we will be carefully lighting up the walkway, ensuring it doesn't spill onto the
forest floor, as we don't want any harsh lighting to disturb the natural equilibrium."
What was intended to be a community project is now being supported and funded by the state government and civic body.
The team will begin by mapping the site. "Right now, it's a thick jungle; we are hoping to clear the paths and the trees that collapsed in last year's cyclone. We are also carrying out a geological study of the site," says Kadri, adding, that the project would take at least a year to complete.
5.4m
Width of the glass bottom viewing space
