Towards the end of February, MMM partnered with No Footprints (who organise heritage walks in our city) to innovate a one-of-a-kind curated walk experience! The walk combined storytelling around Mumbai’s rich cultural heritage to invite participants on a journey to imagine a Mumbai 2.0 – a new vision that stands for a resilient city in a 2 degree warmer world. The walk saw participation of Mumbaikars from diverse ages and backgrounds.
Beginning at Bandra Fort, it included Bandra’s cultural hotspots such as Mount Mary Church, Ranwar village, St. Stephens steps, concluding at Bandra’s newest art installation, ‘Agla Station: Mumbai 2.0’ by artist Tyrell Valladares. A public art installation to draw attention to the urgent need for better climate planning for Mumbai’s floods.
The intersection of art and climate was the theme for this walk, as participants learned about the history of the Bandra Fort, the importance of public spaces in Mumbai, and the evolution of architecture in Bandra. Led by Harshvardhan Tanwar, Founder of No Footprints, the walk explored the coast of Mumbai, currently under threat from climate change and overdevelopment.
At Bandra Fort, participants walked down memory lane to learn about the history of the neighbourhood, from the Portuguese, the Marathas and the British occupation there. Next, overlooking the sea and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link beyond, Tanwar opened a discussion about the harmful impact of infrastructure projects on Mumbai’s coastline, and its indigenous fishing communities. He explained how the artisanal fishermen who would previously fish on the coast and rivers have slowly retreated due to development and climate change.
Later, as the walk passed through the Bandra steps, Tanwar highlighted that 75% of the open space funds allocated to the city have not been utilised as yet, which has resulted in mostly concrete new structures. The tour continued through Mount Mary Church to open a conversation on faith and climate.
At Bandstand, where public art installation, Agla Station: Mumbai 2.0 is stationed, participants shared their perspective and the climate-resilient future they envision for Mumbai.
