Creating Streets as Public Spaces

In cities like Mumbai, finding synergies between mobility, infrastructure, and open spaces is required to create liveable urban environments. One Green Mile provides an opportunity for developing a “Complete Street” in the busy financial hub of Mumbai that has a safe, active, and vibrant public realm while ensuring the efficient movement of vehicles. It demonstrates how encroached and underutilized spaces can be converted into a safe public realm and create a positive, safe, and enjoyable environment for all users of this neighbourhood.

This 1.8km stretch of Senapati Bapat Marg (SBM) passes through the Lower Parel district and is amongst the busiest sections as it connects to the existing suburban railway stations. To facilitate movement of commuters, bus stops and taxi stands are located along it. The road experiences extremely heavy traffic volumes especially during the peak hours; to address this a flyover was built in early 2000s, which bypasses a few of the junctions. Nucleus Office Parks (NOP) who is one of the landowners of two large corporate buildings along this street formed an alliance with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to transform the vehicle dominated SBM to a Complete Street that addresses the needs for all users.

StudioPOD led a multi-disciplinary team to develop and execute the masterplan for One Green Mile over a span of two years by following the due process that a complex city project like this demanded. Detailed existing conditions analysis, stakeholder engagement and approval process between different authorities was initiated to kick start the project. The master plan proposed three main strategies (i) streamline traffic movements & street geometry (ii) equitably allocate space for all users and create a high-quality public realm (iii) develop the space under the flyover as a public space.

A traffic survey was conducted based on which an analysis was done to tabulate the requirements for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Considering the high volumes, an innovative solution involving reclaiming road space used for parking for the creation of a wider public realm was developed. This along with adjustment of the road geometries resulted in streamlining of traffic movement as well as creating a public realm that reduces conflicts. The public realm was richly planted with local species of trees and shrubs and street furniture was introduced. This transformed the footpath from a narrow footpath hidden behind parked vehicles to an exciting and well programmed public realm including a cycle track.

The area under the flyover was neglected; an analysis of the context identified a severe lack of open space in the area. Following a series of brainstorming sessions with stakeholders the underflyover space was envisioned to be a thriving public place that includes play areas, seating, amphitheatre and a ‘Vachanalaya’.

The masterplan identified multiple micro-destinations in the form of pause points of interest along the street, strategically located within the under-utilised areas under the flyover and new plazas nestled within the reclaimed pedestrian areas. The concerted efforts of the team resulted in the dark and dingy space being uplifted to the prime ‘bagh’ of the area. The vertical elements have been painted with people, plants, and objects that tell the story of Lower Parel which has helped establish a link with the context and given it a local identity.

This street today is constructed and has seamlessly integrated with the lives of the Mumbaikars. Along this 1.8km stretch, the streetscape upgradation has reclaimed almost 2.3 acres of public realm, introduced five new modular and open bus-stops, added 130 new trees and 2,000 sqm of new public spaces under the flyover; making daily commute easier and comfortable for more than 1,50,000 people per day. One Green Mile showcases a model complete street transformed into a truly public space and is inspiring the re-design of streets across the city.

Team:

Client: Nuclues Office Parks - A Blackstone Company

Governing Authority : Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - G Ward (N&S)

Urban Design Lead: StudioPOD

International co-architect for underflyover design (Parel Baug) : MVRDV

Public Art collaboration: St+art India

Landscape Architect: Amod Shevde Consulting And Bhakti Thakoor

MEP: ARKK Consulting ,Shamir Talkar

Lighting: Lighting Concepts

Traffic Analysis: Rahul Dalal & Sustainancy Consultants Pvt Ltd Consultants Pvt Ltd

Signage & Wayfinding : StudioPOD

Structural Design: JW Consultants LLP

Project Management : Turner International, India

Photography : Umang Shah, Suleiman Merchant