She had to jump over four or five missing pavement blocks and negotiate a ditch filled with water and trash
A view of Marine Drive in the present day
Marine Drive is the first stop for most tourists and one of the city’s most recognisable symbols. The scenic promenade is showing signs of neglect, our front-page report bore out, with sunken pavement blocks, missing tiles and pothole-like ditches filled with water and garbage marring the walkway.
A Punekar said in our report that she felt she had to visit Marine Drive when in Mumbai, but was shocked to see missing paver blocks. She had to jump over four or five missing pavement blocks and negotiate a ditch filled with water and trash.
Several stretches along the promenade now have uneven, broken, or uprooted tiles. While not always disruptive, the damage ruins the visual appeal of one of the city’s most photographed landmarks. The BMC’s A ward, under whose jurisdiction Marine Drive falls, said that they will investigate the matter. It is important, though, to see that the city’s most visible promenade, its showpiece walking spot, needs repairs and maintenance.
These issues do not seem too big and must be addressed promptly. It is not just about aesthetics; these missing blocks and sunken patches are also dangerous. These cavities, if one could call them that, make this a serious slip-and-trip zone for people. So many have suffered sprains, strains and bone breaks because of the poor state of our pavements and roads. Today, we simply cannot afford the ‘luxury’ and luxury this is, of looking ahead when we walk. We have to look down lest we trip over a paver block, twist an ankle over a missing tile, allow our leg to sink into a hole on the road, or balance painfully on the surface. The Marine Drive situation is only a microcosm of what perils walking or jogging entail in the city. While it is the people who need to look smart and make wise choices about where to walk, our authorities need to do quality work and much-needed repairs.
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