A 4,800-sq-ft walking track with a small chess-board ground, a large gazebo, a vermicompost bed and solar and wind energy being harnessed in your neighbourhood.

Sounds a luxury in space-starved Mumbai, but thanks to a motley group of residents, it will turn into a reality at the long-ignored Carter Road promenade.

Now extending till Khar danda, it is on its way to becoming a world-class recreational centre. The renovated Carter Road promenade extension will be thrown open to public on Sunday. Not only that, a gazebo, powered by solar energy, meant for senior citizens will come up by May. Residents of Khar, Bandra and Santacruz will now have a reason to cheer.

“We had the plan on paper almost an year ago. Work could not be implemented because of funds crunch and lack of co-ordination among the civic body, MHADA and the ALMs (Advanced Local Management) and to educate the slum dwellers residing opposite the promenade that it is for their own good,” said Renuka Tahiliani of the YMCA ALM. But for the residents it has been a worthy wait.

“We got the funds from both our MP Priya Dutt and MLA Baba Siddique, last month and have kick-started work. Also the civic body helped us in removing all squatters in the area and cleaning up the place, but the best support was from slum dwellers near the area. It is the first time that slum dwellers are actively supporting a residents’ development work,” said Tahiliani.

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