Mumbai: Goregaon footpath becomes walkable after BMC clears overgrown trees

Shrubs trimmed over the footpath. Pics/Madhulika Ram Kavattur

The Goregaon footpath that no one used has finally become walkable for people. Earlier this week, mid-day reported on the footpath that leads from the Oberoi Mall towards the Aarey Metro station on the red line, which was in a bad condition due to overgrown trees hanging too low to let people walk.

After mid-day's story, the BMC Ward P South, took action and trimmed the low-hanging trees, leaving the area walkable for pedestrians.

Branches that were trimmed left out on the footpath, yet to be cleared

Anna Tony, who works near the Oberoi Mall, told mid-day, "It was a task earlier as one would either have to duck and walk on the footpath, or had to walk on the western express highway, risking accidents, but now, as the civic body has finally taken action on it, it has become easier for us pedestrians to walk on it."

Previously, the trees over the footpath were hanging so low that anyone over the height of 4 or 5 ft, would have to duck to be able to walk, or else they would be hit right in the face with dense, dry tree branches. The civic body has trimmed these, leaving room for people to walk.

A trunk from one of the trimmed trees left on the footpath

However, while the overgrown trees and shrubs have been trimmed, the civic body is yet to pick up the branches that were trimmed, and repair the hole in the drain lid which poses the risk of someone getting stuck in it.

Another passerby, requesting anonymity, said, "It used to be scary walking on the footpath because of the trees, but now that they have cleared it up, we can finally walk on the footpath instead of risking our lives by walking on the highway road.

The drain lid that is yet to be fixed

Mid-day contacted the P South ward of the BMC to get an update on when the dead tree branches will be taken away, and when the hole in the drain lid will be fixed, but received no reply by the time of going to print.