Mumbai: A Rs 42 crore proposal for constructing a protective retaining wall on the lower side of the elevated nature walkway at Kamla Nehru Park in Malabar Hill will come up for approval before BMC standing committee on Wednesday.According to the civic body, after work on the elevated nature walkway was undertaken, stabilisation of the slopes on the upper side of the trail was urgently required. Accordingly, work to stabilise the slopes on the upper side of the elevated trail was carried out.However, there is a steep slope at some places on the lower side of the elevated trail. Besides, developed buildings, slums and chawls are located at some places at the foot of the hill.The existing retaining wall at the foot of the hill along the elevated nature trail is made of stone. During a site inspection, it was observed that the stone structure was in a dilapidated condition at many places. It was also found that the hill terrain above and at the foot of Malabar Hill Nature Trail, as well as the rock mass and soil in the terrain, had disintegrated.Due to this, landslides have occurred at different locations every year. During the previous monsoon season, a landslide occurred at Loyalka Compound, following which the existing protective wall collapsed. As a preventive measure, barricades have been erected, and the police have also issued safety guidelines to BMC during regular safety inspections of Malabar Hill Reservoir Hill.The civic body pointed out that keeping in mind the recent landslides and projects such as the Pramod Navalkar Gallery and the elevated trail on the hill slopes, as well as the safety of these projects and residential structures located at the foot of the hill, stabilisation of the remaining slopes on the lower side of the elevated trail is necessary.The proposed work plan, structural design and blueprints for the project have been prepared by the appointed structural consultant and reviewed by experts from IIT Mumbai.
