Yesterday, this paper carried a report about Matunga residents taking over the area under Tulpule Chowk flyover at King’s Circle for beautification. After running from pillar to post seeking permissions for two years for the project, they finally received approval to give a makeover to the space below the flyover. The area below Tulpule Chowk flyover was in pathetic condition, with illegal encroachment and parking.

The plan proposes a 1-km long park below the flyover, starting from Maheshwari Udyan towards Dadar TT bridge. Residents now have to raise around R3 crore to build and maintain the park, for which they are planning to approach multinational corporations. A number of residents are optimistic about making it the best park in Mumbai. The Matunga residents have showed admirable and rare persistence, in getting permissions for this project. Because of the hardship involved and patience required, we see many projects fall by the wayside, good intentions come to naught because of the sheer amount of red tape that people just do not have the time or the resources to negotiate. Yet, we have seen that communities flourish when there is united effort and people’s power comes to the fore.