Mumbai: Rebuilding of Malabar Hill road could start after 2022 monsoon

BG Kher Marg at Malabar Hill remains out of bounds for traffic. Pic/Ashish Raje

BG Kher Marg, earlier known as Ridge Road, that had suffered extensive damage in a landslide at Malabar Hill last year still remains shut for traffic, with sources saying the work on it will start only after the monsoon next year. Officials from BMC's Roads department said water pipelines are being laid underneath and rebuilding of the road will begin once this job is over.

The road connects the Malabar Hill area to the major junctions of Hughes Road, Napeansea Road and Peddar Road. It was hit by a landslip on August 5, 2020, leading to its closure. Sources said BMC officials wanted to wait till this year's monsoon to check the effect of heavy rain before starting the work.

The landslide had also damaged the pipelines that supply water to the tony neighbourhood. While the water supply to Malabar Hill was immediately restored through makeshift arrangements, the BMC will need to fix the pipelines permanently before the construction of Ridge Road is taken up, said a civic official. "The tenders for appointing a contractor for the road are almost ready but we will carry out the work only after the Hydraulic Engineering department finishes its work. And they are likely to complete their work in another 3 to 4 months."

The landslide had prompted the BMC to form a technical advisory committee to study the condition of soil and road before reconstruction of the patch. Repairs on N S Patkar Marg have already been completed, while work on Ridge Road will be taken up only after the monsoon next year, said sources.