In order to maintain the exclusive view of Marine Drive and the Queen’s Necklace from portions of Malabar Hill, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has retained some restrictions on building
In order to maintain the exclusive view of Marine Drive and the Queen’s Necklace from portions of Malabar Hill, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has retained some restrictions on building constructions introduced in the Development Plan 1991, as part of the Development Control Regulations published by it on Sunday. It has retained the concept of Funnel Vision in the Ferozshah Mehta Garden (Hanging Gardens) and the Kamla Nehru Park, which restricts the height of buildings between Malabar Hill and Marine Drive.
To preserve the western view of Marine Drive from Hanging Gardens, two funnels of visions have been preserved in this range. New buildings constructed within the range of this funnel will not be allowed to scale heights taller than 21.35 metres.
Similarly, to preserve the eastern and southern view of the Backbay and the Marine Drive area from Kamla Nehru Park in Malabar Hill, another funnel of vision has been retained in this area, with similar restrictions on height of buildings. This height will include the terrace, staircase or lift room, elevated water storage tank or any other feature of the building.
Talking about the implications of this line, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “We want to maintain a clear line of vision from both these gardens. The idea is that the beauty of the Queen’s Necklace should be seen from viewing galleries in these places, from the point of view of maintaining the tourist attraction of the area.”
However, the height restriction applies only to a plot falling entirely within the lines of the funnel of vision as marked on the DP, with separate provisions for a building in the outer funnel of vision.
After the BMC announced earlier this year that it will construct a new viewing gallery at Malabar Hill akin to London Eye, for tourists to enjoy the pristine view of the Queen’s Necklace, the BMC has ensured that no construction of high rises gets in the way, obstructing the view. Following concerns from citizens in South Mumbai regarding the same, the BMC has retained a clause from the Development Plan 1991, in order to maintain the exclusive view of Marine Drive and Queen’s Necklace from portions of Malabar Hill.
