The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to convert the area beneath a flyover near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s (CSMIA) Terminal 1 into a sprawling “community urban farm”.
This initiative by the civic body to reclaim neglected city spaces is a first for the Western Express Highway corridor in the metropolis. If successful, the BMC plans to replicate this “edible landscape” model across other flyovers in the suburbs.
It aims to transform a 24,000-sq-ft stretch into a lush agricultural zone where locals can grow vegetables, fruits and other plants.
To ensure the project, which is likely to be launched next month, remains eco-friendly, there are plans to use compost generated from local wet waste.
The area will be fenced to prevent unauthorised parking and misuse by anti-social elements, which have plagued under-flyover spaces.
The T1 flyover project follows the success of similar ‘garden-under-flyover’ initiatives in Matunga and the ‘One Green Mile’ at Parel, but it is said to be the first to introduce active food cultivation as a core component.
The BMC’s role is to provide land, water, and electricity, and the rest of the work will be taken up by local organisations.
So far, 24 pits have been constructed and will be extended as per demand and people’s participation. Work on fencing and soil preparation is expected to begin next month.
What will be included in this project?