BMC Floats ₹45-Crore Tender to Beautify Regal Junction in Colaba
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has floated a ₹45-crore tender to redesign and beautify Regal Junction in Colaba. The project forms a central part of the broader pedestrianisation initiative planned for the Kalaghoda-Gateway precinct. Designed to give south Mumbai a civic facelift and attract more tourists to the area, the redevelopment is expected to take 24 months to complete, excluding the monsoon seasons.
A major feature of the project is the creation of a one-acre plaza at Regal Junction. According to Colaba corporator Makarand Narwekar, this newly designated public space will feature Mumbai’s first open-air art museum. The overall design draws inspiration from prominent pedestrian shopping streets abroad, such as Carnaby Street in London and Buchanan Street in Glasgow.
To streamline vehicular movement, the makeover will reduce the number of traffic signals at Regal Junction from 27 to nine. Medians and traffic islands will be realigned to improve traffic flow through the area, and dedicated traffic management measures will be implemented throughout the construction period.
Infrastructure upgrades will involve reconstructing and strengthening roads across the junction using both asphalt and concrete surfacing. New footpaths equipped with accessibility ramps for persons with disabilities will be developed to improve pedestrian navigation.
The civil works will include shifting underground utilities, poles, traffic signals, and signboards. Contractors will build new utility ducts and service chambers, construct new stormwater chambers, and carry out repairs on existing drainage networks across the site.
Aesthetic and heritage elements are also integral to the redevelopment. The project will feature basalt and granite cobblestone paving, heritage-style lamp posts, topiary, and ornamental landscaping. As part of the spatial reorganisation, the existing Vikrant Memorial will be repositioned within the junction area.
To preserve and enhance local greenery, existing trees at the site will be transplanted, while new trees and shrubs will be planted. Tree guards will also be installed along the new footpaths to protect the landscaping.
