Marine Drive is the first stop for most tourists and one of the city’s most recognisable symbols. The scenic promenade is showing signs of neglect, our front-page report bore out, with sunken pavement blocks, missing tiles and pothole-like ditches filled with water and garbage marring the walkway.

A Punekar said in our report that she felt she had to visit Marine Drive when in Mumbai, but was shocked to see missing paver blocks. She had to jump over four or five missing pavement blocks and negotiate a ditch filled with water and trash.

Several stretches along the promenade now have uneven, broken, or uprooted tiles. While not always disruptive, the damage ruins the visual appeal of one of the city’s most photographed landmarks. The BMC’s A ward, under whose jurisdiction Marine Drive falls, said that they will investigate the matter. It is important, though, to see that the city’s most visible promenade, its showpiece walking spot, needs repairs and maintenance.