A promenade, an organised space for parking boats, gazebos—all these elements are soon going to adorn Cuffe Parade’s Macchimar Nagar, which is one of the oldest fishing villages in Mumbai, under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Koliwada beautification project.
Sharing its boundaries with the high-rises of Cuffe Parade and Nariman Point in downtown Mumbai, this quaint fishing village has been home to the city’s oldest indigenous community ‘Kolis’ for several decades now. However, unlike the Worli Koliwada, which has been witnessing a huge influx of tourists, Macchimar Nagar has remained under the shadows due to its deteriorating infrastructure and poor civic amenities. Proposed in 2018, the BMC commenced work on the first phase of the beautification project in January this year to preserve and showcase the rich heritage of the indigenous community and also boost local tourism. The work on the beautification project launched in full swing after the civic body razed the illegal encroachments in February.
Shivadas Gurav, the assistant municipal commissioner who is in charge of the BMC’s Ward A, told The Indian Express, “Earlier the area was encroached upon by a lot of hut dwellers. We demolished the encroachments with help from the collector’s officers. This project will not only beautify the space but also build employment opportunities for the locals and boost tourism.”
Harshita Narwekar, a former corporator, who is spearheading the project, said, “There was a need for some kind of intervention as the area was unkempt and unhygienic with a lot of debris lying around. The aim of the project was to celebrate the Koli community, who are the first inhabitants of Mumbai city, by showcasing their culture and beautifying their space.” Narwekar added that if the beautification project turns out to be a success, it can be replicated in all the fishing colonies of Mumbai.
In the first phase of the beautification project, the BMC plans to develop a new entrance along with a pathway leading to a promenade. A seating area, along with a viewing deck, will also be created to provide citizens an unhindered view of the Arabian Sea. Murals adorned with light and art installations highlighting the Koli culture will also be set up. A more organized parking space for boats is also being developed. Narwekar added, “In addition to developing recreational spaces such as the promenade, we have also proposed the idea of developing gazebos wherein the local community can carry out vending.”
With rising concerns among locals about the depleting fish catch, the BMC is also planning to create spaces where inhabitants can explore alternative employment opportunities. “In addition to vending, Kolis can explore the experience of renting their houses as BNBs to generate more revenue,” said Narwekar. Meanwhile, the BMC is also in talks of developing an open space wherein the locals can sell traditional Koli delicacies to boost tourism and promote their culture.
The beautification project, which is estimated to cost Rs 3 crores, will also see development of the Badhwar Park, which is infamous for being the landing spot for the terrorists who entered Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks. The second phase of the beautification plan, as part of which a community centre will be developed, is slated to commence soon. “There are two open grounds in the area which will be taken up for beautification in the next phase,” added Narwekar.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Jasmine Saluja, co-founder of Plural, the urban designing consultant of the project, said, “This project is a product of workshops we conducted with the local women of Macchimar Nagar. We’ve gone beyond simple beautification as we plan on developing the infrastructure of the place in a way that it reflects the heritage of the Koli community. It will give locals a platform where they can explore various employment opportunities by capitalizing on their knowledge based on their culture and their relationship with the sea.”