The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced that it will turn Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) into a ‘semi-pedestrian zone’ every Sunday starting October 2. Under this proposal, BKC will be open only for walkers, skateboarders or cyclists between 9 AM to 4 PM on Sundays, cutting down vehicular traffic significantly. Vehicles will be allowed in the area before and after the mentioned time period.
This initiative was pitched after officials found that several essential staff working at government agencies during the lockdown either walked to the offices in BKC or rode their bicycle from home. An MMRDA official said that this new step will help continue this even after the lockdown has been lifted, consequently reducing vehicular pollution for a few hours every week.
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MMRDA authorities said that cycle tracks will be laid out around BKC over the coming weeks to accommodate the new “Equal Street” rules on Sunday. “There are some issues with the cycle track in BKC which will be resolved soon and the paver blocks from the footpath will be removed and converted into the concrete road for e-bikers and cyclists,” an MMRDA official said.
Separately, the MMRDA has also launched e-bike services around railway stations to effectively provide last-mile connectivity to the commuters, particularly from railway stations. These e-bikes are available on a rental basis with a flat fee of ₹5, while ₹1.5 is charged per minute.
Given that Mumbai’s pollution levels have reached dangerous levels not too long ago, every move to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads should benefit the city in the long run.
The MMRDA is also contemplating holding events and other activities for the citizens at BKC. This will be conducted only when BKC is closed off for vehicular traffic on Sundays.
MMRDA Commissioner RA Rajeev said that the agency is currently planning to start this initiative by the second week of October. It’s unclear how the authorities will conduct public events at BKC while also ensuring social distancing.
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