India, July 15 -- On Tuesday, Mumbai officially got its first pedestrian-friendly district with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating the beautification project of the Kala Ghoda Art Avenue, giving a fresh lease of life to the heritage precinct. For a city that is becoming increasingly motorized, the development is heartening, raising hopes for more such walkable zones across the city. Yet, what truly makes Kala Ghoda's pedestrianization initiative stand out is that it has been decades in the making, driven by sustained efforts of residents, local leaders, activists and architects working together to ensure a project of this scale sees the light of day.

Led by the BMC as part of its master plan to transform the Ballard Pier-Colab...