Mumbai's best footpaths: Three places where walking is a pleasure

The spacious Marine Drive promenade footpath. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

Good footpaths remain a rarity across Mumbai, with many pedestrians continuing to struggle for a safe and uninterrupted walking experience due to encroachments, broken stretches, or the complete absence of pavements in several areas. Yet, some parts of the city stand out for offering well-designed and walkable pedestrian infrastructure. mid-day spotlights three locations where pedestrians can enjoy safer and more comfortable walks on functional footpaths.

Marine Drive Promenade

This nearly 3.6-km-long promenade along the Arabian Sea remains one of the city's most popular public spaces. Frequented by morning and evening walkers, fitness enthusiasts, and tourists, the promenade offers ample space for pedestrian movement. Despite witnessing heavy footfall, the walkway allows people to move comfortably without congestion, making it one of Mumbai's more accessible and well-used public walking spaces.

Bharavi Mane, a regular visitor

‘The Marine Drive promenade is a classic example of how pedestrians should be prioritised while planning infrastructure projects. While it may not be feasible to build such wide footpaths across Mumbai due to space constraints, the authorities should at least ensure that pavements remain encroachment-free wherever possible. Strict action should also be taken against vehicles parked on footpaths and against those occupying pedestrian spaces'

Bandra-Kurla Complex

Bandra-Kurla Complex stands out for its wide footpaths, organised street layout, and relatively pedestrian-friendly design. During a visit to the business district, mid-day found that in several areas, the footpaths were broad enough to allow office-goers and daily commuters to walk comfortably and safely, even during the morning and evening peak hours.

The footpath near Earth Cafe, opposite MMRDA ground, Bandra Kurla Complex. PIC/SHADAB KHAN

Ratnakar Sawant, regular visitor

‘This is one of the few places in Mumbai where pedestrians do not have to constantly compete with vehicles or navigate broken and encroached footpaths, showing that when pedestrian infrastructure is prioritised, people naturally choose to walk more. This model should be replicated in other business districts and residential areas across the city or at least wherever possible'

Hiren Patel, pedestrian

‘There is enough space for office-goers and commuters to move comfortably without stepping onto the road here. BKC serves as an example of how urban infrastructure can be designed keeping pedestrians at the centre'

Stretch Between Citi and Infiniti Mall, Andheri

Some stretches along the newly developed Link Road between Andheri and Dahisar offer a rare pedestrian-friendly experience. Between Citi Mall and Infiniti Mall in Andheri West, for example, there are broad footpaths on either side of the street. Residents say similar well-designed and obstruction-free sidewalks should be developed across the city to improve walkability and reduce inconvenience for daily commuters.

Northbound footpath between Citi Mall and Infiniti Mall along New Link Road in Andheri West. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE

Nasreen Madan, pedestrian
‘There is ample space for pedestrians to walk comfortably on this stretch, unlike in other parts of Mumbai. We hope similar pedestrian-friendly footpaths are developed citywide, so that people can walk safely and are not forced to risk their lives walking on the road'

Sudhanshu Pandey, Lokhandwala resident
‘Urban planners should ensure that pedestrians are given priority while designing road infrastructure projects across the city. This will not only protect pedestrians' right to walk but also encourage people to walk long distances. At the same time, the authorities must ensure that pedestrian walkways remain encroachment-free and are maintained'

[popcorn number="3.6 km" desc="Length of Marine Drive" class="Default"]