The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a comprehensive restoration project targeting Mahatma Gandhi Road in Fort, a stretch known for its historic architecture and bustling pedestrian activity.
The plan includes the demolition and redevelopment of 11 civic chowkies—small police and utility booths—currently scattered along the iconic stretch that includes Fashion Street, one of South Mumbai’s most visited shopping avenues. The initiative is part of a wider strategy to not only protect and enhance heritage precincts but also bring about visual harmony and functional upgrades across the Fort and Colaba areas. Civic officials confirmed that the redevelopment will include installations of aesthetically appropriate street lighting, repair of footpaths, and the introduction of new chowkie structures that blend with the architectural language of the historic locale.
According to an official from BMC’s planning division, preliminary architectural sketches have already been prepared to visualise the redesigned chowkies. However, the final design blueprint will be the responsibility of a contractor to be appointed for the project. The appointed agency will be mandated to work alongside heritage consultants, landscape planners, and civic engineers to develop structures that meet heritage norms and suit the visual fabric of the city’s colonial-era business district. “The primary goal is to ensure that all new structures along this stretch support Mumbai’s efforts to preserve its unique cultural identity. These chowkies will no longer be seen as mere utility booths but as integrated pieces in a planned urban landscape,” said a senior civic official associated with the heritage cell.
The BMC has mandated that the designs undergo approval from the A Ward office and its appointed project management consultants. These stakeholders will vet the detailed plans for architectural sensitivity, accessibility compliance, and visual coherence with the surrounding built environment. Civic authorities have also proposed installing cast-iron street lighting poles designed in a vintage style to echo the city’s historic core, replacing the existing utilitarian poles that detract from the aesthetic continuity of the area. The financial outlay for the project remains undefined as it depends on the final architectural scope and materials to be used. However, timelines have been laid down. Once a contractor is on board and a work order is issued, the project will need to be completed within nine months, excluding the monsoon season. Work will likely commence post-monsoon to ensure uninterrupted progress and quality execution.
Parallel to the chowkie restoration, BMC has also turned its focus on revitalising Fashion Street. This long stretch of vendor-operated retail stalls has functioned in a somewhat informal manner despite its commercial popularity. Officials have revealed that a separate project is underway to organise over 380 licensed stalls into a uniform hawker plaza format. The goal is to maintain order, boost aesthetics, and uphold pedestrian safety, while also supporting the economic vitality of street vendors operating in the area. “We are working to reorganise the entire Fashion Street zone into a sustainable retail plaza model. It will give the vendors more legitimacy while improving the shopping experience for visitors,” said an official overseeing the vendor engagement initiative.
The corporation is currently holding consultations with licensed vendors to ensure their participation and consent in the proposed transformation. Sources indicate that each vendor will be allotted a kiosk of standardised design, constructed using eco-friendly materials, that aligns with the larger visual theme of the upgraded MG Road. The restoration of the area also prioritises universal design—ensuring that footpaths and chowkies are inclusive of persons with disabilities. Tactile indicators, ramps and level surfaces will be considered in the planning process to create a more accessible urban space.
Urban planners and conservation experts have praised the city administration’s focus on heritage-sensitive development. “If implemented with attention to detail and public interest, this can be a model for how Indian cities balance the needs of infrastructure and heritage,” said an expert in architectural conservation. The BMC’s ongoing projects across South Mumbai reflect a larger vision of transitioning India’s financial capital into a model metropolis—one that respects its architectural legacy while embracing modern infrastructure standards. By integrating heritage preservation with functional upgrades such as improved lighting, uniform civic structures, and better pedestrian amenities, the city aims to offer a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive public environment.
Environmentalists have also welcomed the move, particularly the planned use of materials and designs that reduce visual and environmental pollution. Officials have indicated that solar-powered lighting and energy-efficient installations could be considered to support Mumbai’s climate resilience agenda. While residents and businesses in the area have expressed cautious optimism, they have also called on the BMC to ensure that the restoration works are executed without prolonged disruption. “These are positive steps, but there must be accountability in maintaining deadlines and ensuring the final structures respect the local context,” said a long-time resident and shopkeeper near Flora Fountain.
With global cities embracing placemaking and heritage-led regeneration as pillars of sustainable development, Mumbai’s initiative to revamp MG Road’s civic infrastructure could emerge as a flagship for similar interventions in other heritage zones of the country. As the city prepares for its next phase of heritage revitalisation, stakeholders hope that such projects will not only improve functionality but also instil a renewed sense of pride among residents and visitors for Mumbai’s rich historical character.
BMC to Revamp Chowkies on MG Road Fort
