A Look at the Upcoming Forest Road in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill

TeaMumbai sign and what comes to mind? Traffic, skyscrapers, local trains and maybe the beach. But its posh Malabar Hill neighborhood will soon be home to an entirely more immersive experience: the Malabar Hill Forest Trail, an elevated walkway. An initiative of Malabar Hill Citizens Forum and Nepean Sea Road Citizens Forum, the approximately ₹10 crore project, is being designed by IMK Architects. “Over the past six decades, our firm has worked on a wide variety of projects such as residential, commercial, healthcare, educational, self-redevelopment projects, urban planning and townships. In terms of urban design, we have extensively worked on those projects. The works which include improvement of infrastructure such as footpaths, parks etc. The Forest Trail project is particularly different as it is a very simple intervention that connects citizens to 12 acres of forgotten forest land, Partner at IMK Architects and Rahul Qadri, Principal Architect, says. Currently, tenders are being invited and Qadri aims to complete the project in 9-12 months. Excerpts from an interview:

Why was it decided to build this elevated walkway on Malabar Hill?

The Malabar Hill Forest is about 12 acres of lush green land in the middle of Mumbai’s densely populated urban landscape. It is home to a diverse mix of flora and fauna – from trees such as gulmohar, wild almond, copperpod, mango, coconut, raintree, jamun and jackfruit to many species of birds such as the rose-ringed parrot, hornbill, coppersmith and brown-headed Barbet, magpie-robin, golden oriole, and peacock, as well as snakes such as the Indian cobra.

Always popular with joggers, athletes, nature-lovers and leisure-seekers of the affluent Malabar Hill neighborhood, the forest today is falling into disrepair and neglect. Structures extending through the woods, including a ladder and a greenhouse, as well as old access steps, walkways, fences and railings are worn or broken; Open drains lead into the forest and form cesspools, breeding mosquitoes; Trash and construction waste are regularly dumped along the trails; And the forest is coming under increasing threat of encroachment by slums. The hill subsoil has also started giving way due to continuous erosion due to storm water runoff along steep slopes due to lack of drainage. In addition, the area is fast becoming a hotbed of anti-social activities like making illicit liquor. Thus, the Malabar Hill Forest Trail arises out of the urgent need to preserve and restore the forest’s rich ecosystem, creating a new, sustainable interface between nature and the city.

Why do you think such projects are important for Indian cities?

The Forest Trail is an effort to enable people to experience an old, urban forest responsibly. Projects like this are important because our cities lack spaces where citizens can interact intimately and get acquainted with nature. The project is a new way to catalyze the conservation and restoration of often neglected and deteriorating urban forests that are becoming victims of uncontrolled development.

Work on the concept of the project has been going on for a year. Please take us through its design journey.

Our vision for the Forest Trail is to protect this past 12-acre pocket of tropical forest in the heart of the city and restore its ecological balance by bringing back native plant species that have been lost over time, allowing the forest to thrive. Help is available. The overarching idea of ​​elevated walkways is to encourage people to come, understand and be part of the ecosystem while creating the least disturbance.

We initially came up with three design options – one on-ground, one above-ground, and a third which was a hybrid of both. But we realized that keeping it on the ground would allow people to encroach into the forest, which could disturb the flora and fauna, so we finally decided to go for a completely elevated path.

The trail is set to be built without destroying a single tree. Expand.

We have conceptualized a raised wooden walkway with a central spine of epoxy-coated, steel structural supports to keep the impact of interference on the forest floor to a minimum. A comprehensive soil test will help determine the design of the foundation and these supports. Our design takes into account the width of the trail, its sectional design, lighting and materials mixed with housing. Lighting will be minimized to ensure protection of the forest from light pollution. The design will also address important ecological and hydrological concerns – it will avoid blocking the flow of natural water, minimize interference with existing root systems, and prevent wildlife movement and habitat disturbance. The walkway and its railing will be constructed in weathered wood to merge with the natural colors of the forest.

How do you plan to keep the walkway interactive and accessible to visitors?

The city has several skywalks, but no elevated leisure walkways. Surrounded by nature and the chirping sounds of birds, this trail will make for a safe haven for pedestrians amidst the crowded city. The trail will be approximately 705 meters long with an average width of 1.5 meters, and will be at least 2 meters above the forest floor. The height will vary according to the slope of the ground, which will be extended up to 10 meters in places. The trail will be combined with viewing decks, benches and a glass-bottom look-out zone at the points where the walkway widens. For example, the trail will extend up to 3.6m at points with viewing decks and 5.4m in the glass bottom look-out zone.