History in lights

It was all things bright and beautiful as Colaba got a line of ornate streetlights on Monday evening New lamps with a whiff of heritage and history came up just outside Zero Pasta lane in Colaba on the SBS road footpath and the centre divider This is opposite the mandir on the causeway and outside Cusrow Baug if you are looking for a local landmark An inaugural ceremony at the Colaba space saw residents sport smiles as bright as the lightsLocals speakCusrow Baugrsquos Hoshang Jal said the lights are both useful and beautiful concurred as he added ldquoThe lights from here right up to Regal look unique and have an oldworld charm but more importantly they should be looked at through the needed prism More light is always goodrdquoFormer corporator Makarand Narvekar speaks at the inaugurationLocal Cynthia DrsquoMello said attention to aesthetics is evident ldquoWhen we have the same kind of lights all the way to Regal on the divider and footpath too it spells uniformity and that is vital We often see designs and installations all across the city and the intent is good but it does seem fragmented at times We want Colaba to become a model for Mumbairdquo DrsquoMello said proudly Colabarsquos OrsquoMary Umapathy was excited to hear that more Pasta Lanes in the area are to be lit up ldquoWe are transported to a wonderlandrdquo she said with a megawatt smileAim of the projectBella Shahmdashthe moving spirit behind this project and an active residentmdashsaid ldquoWe had the full support of our former corporators I had four things in mind when this was at the drawing board stagemdashbeauty functionality heritage and safety I am happy to say we ticked all four boxes and these are surely going to benefit the publicrdquoColabarsquos Navnath Lalge said this ldquoupped the attractiveness quotientrdquo while local Chaitra Lalge said ldquowe are so happy this has been done but we hope beaches in the vicinity like Badhwar Park and others have a permanent solution when it comes to cleanliness It is heartening to see citizen involvement Even the robust attendance at the inauguration is a pointer to the interest levelsrdquoCheers and applauseAt the inauguration onlookers burst into applause as former corporator Makarand Narvekar arrived taking the mike at the little dais set up on the spot ldquoIt took us 12 months to see this to completion Thanks to the residents who conceptualised the lights project It is because of locals that we public representatives are encouraged to achieve more goalsrdquo In bullish mode Narvekar said ldquoAt this point in time the BMC has no dearth of funds So if you have a feasible useful idea then the BMC has the wherewithal to implement itrdquo he added to cheersUjwal Koli said as the group made its way to launch the lights ldquoThe equation is simple More lights mean more safety Once shops shut along the causeway we do have streetlights but this will only enhance visibilityrdquo As the lights came on and cast a glow along the stretch Narvekar said ldquoWe are planning to light up the Pasta Lanes and the area around the Colaba Post Office toordquoAs the event wound down and bouquets and thanks were given out coconceptualiser and Strandmarg Association Secretary Ajay Multani said ldquoThese lights on the divider and the footpath are especially welcome Busy roads like these need them and a betterlit footpath is a bonus and boon especially for our senior citizensrdquo The lights will bring the stretch to life every evening12 monthsTime taken to complete project