BMC to appoint urban design consultants for pedestrian friendly streets

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed hiring urban design consultants to help with the city’s street-improvement initiative. The experts will be entrusted with preparing a detailed report on how to make streets more pedestrian-friendly and attractive.

The BMC manages around 1950 km of roads on a daily basis. Footpaths at many locations in the city have either been encroached upon or have been obstructed by parked vehicles. Officials from the department of Roads and Traffic said that the BMC has invited a Request for Proposal for the appointment of consultants. These consultants will be hired for the next three years.

The urban designers are to conduct a detailed survey of the streets of Mumbai. Based on the survey, they will prepare a 3D based visualisation of plans, identify challenges across the city, and come up with solutions to make Mumbai streets pedestrian friendly. They will also be responsible for the installation of street furniture like dustbins and chairs.

An official stated that so far, the development of Mumbai has been very uneven. In south Mumbai, he said, one can see wide and beautiful footpaths with trees, whereas in suburbs and central Mumbai, many places do not even have a footpath. He asserted that the consultants will bring uniformity in the development and beautification of the streets of Mumbai.