New pedestrian corridor opens between Colaba and Cuffe Parade

Maze-like gates making this a pedestrian only access. PICS/ATUL KAMBLE

Pedestrians are set to do the walk of life with less strife as a walkway from 4th Pasta Lane in Colaba opening out to Cuffe Parade has got a facelift. This sliver is next to the "Kismet building". Those in Colaba can access Cuffe Parade while pedestrians walking on the Cuffe Parade side can walk through to access Colaba. This lane was inaugurated with cheers, ribbon cutting, applause, and sweets on Saturday late evening as a clutch of Colaba locals stood at the mouth of the walkway.

Art work is part of aesthetic uplift

"Just for a few seconds I thought I was in Europe," Colaba Corporator Makarand Narwekar said as he walked through the space with its wall art and ornate street lamps ready to come ablaze. Activist Bella Shah said, "Work started roughly five months ago. We all talk about walking through the city, but for that to happen and become reality, we have to make our cities walkable. This is, of course, a very small place, but every attempt counts." Building residents were heard talking about the lane getting inundated. This monsoon should be testing times.

Concerns over the path

>> Used to get flooded during the monsoon but has to be tested in this season.
>> Wall art and lamps make for good aesthetics, but people need to be civic-minded to maintain cleanliness.
>> Street art should not be defiled by paan stains.
>> Maze-like gates on both ends make it inaccessible for the wheelchair-bound.

Colaba Corporator Makarand Narwekar at the inauguration

Light site

In August 2023, similar ornate street lamps with a whiff of heritage and history came up just outside "Zero Pasta Lane" in Colaba, outside the landmark Cusrow Baug. At that time too, there was an inaugural ceremony at the Colaba space.

Voices

Dr Gauravi Shivalkar Narwekar, Corporator
‘This may be just a lane, but every access is important. Brighter lights were needed. It also shows that people's representatives and residents can come together and bring about change.'

Harshita Narwekar, Corporator
‘Residents are the first eyes and ears of the area. If they can communicate their pain points, then we can collectively work on solutions.'