The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a INR 41.83 crore project to stabilise the hillside near Kamla Nehru Park at Malabar Hill, following repeated landslides and concerns over the deteriorating retaining structures in the area.
The proposal has been placed before the BMC Standing Committee for approval. The work is expected to begin in October, after the monsoon.
The project will focus on the vulnerable lower side of Mumbai’s elevated nature walkway. The work will include construction of an RCC retaining wall, soil strengthening, steel mesh and gabion structures, as well as improved drainage to prevent rainwater from weakening the slope.
According to civic officials, the existing stone retaining wall at the foothill has deteriorated at several locations. Inspections also found disintegration of the hill’s rock and soil, increasing the possibility of slope failure during heavy rainfall.
A landslide at Loyalka Compound during the previous monsoon resulted in the collapse of part of the existing protective wall. Barricades were subsequently installed as a precautionary measure. Police officials had also advised the BMC to strengthen safety measures around the Malabar Hill reservoir and its surrounding slopes.
The latest work is linked to the BMC’s elevated nature walkway at Malabar Hill, which was opened to the public in March 2025 at a cost of around Rs 25 crore. The 482-metre-long walkway was designed to offer visitors views of the green landscape of Malabar Hill and Girgaon Chowpatty.
However, the walkway was shut after a large tree branch fell on June 12, damaging part of its safety railing.
The need for slope stabilisation was identified during the walkway’s construction in 2022. A structural consultant had recommended measures including rock support, steel mesh, soil grouting and retaining structures. Stabilisation work was subsequently undertaken on the upper side of the trail.
The latest phase will address vulnerable sections on the lower side. Dev Engineers emerged as the lowest bidder after the BMC received bids from six companies. The basic contract cost is estimated at Rs 36.69 crore, with the total project outlay reaching Rs 41.83 crore, including taxes and other provisions.
The structural design and project plans have been reviewed by experts from IIT Bombay.