BMC's 'colour scheme' for Marine Drive finds no takers, residents unimpressed

Mumbai: Marine Drive and the shimmering arc of the Queen’s Necklace is the pride of Mumbai. Read: A proposal, and a push to solve Mumbai’s housing crisis Rajiv Mishra, director of art, government of Maharashtra’s Directorate of Art and the Sir JJ School of Art, told Hindustan Times that the former additional municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma had commissioned the presentation to do a “colourful scheme for the Art Deco buildings on Marine Drive”. While the institute is not known to work as consultants, it conceded to do a one-off as “BMC asked us to do paintings on the Art Deco buildings to enliven the spaces of Marine Drive,” said Mishra. “The BMC has also to seek the permission of owners of the Art Deco buildings about the feasibility of the project.” Read: Marine Drive-like promenade planned behind Radio Club When queried about the inspiration behind these themes, Mishra said, “We wanted to celebrate the essence of Mumbai in Marine Drive, as it is the first image of the city. This will be done compulsorily.” Expressing displeasure with the government’s plans, Marine Drive resident Atul Kumar, who is also the president of Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens’ Association and founder trustee of Art Deco Mumbai Trust, presented an elementary argument – since Art Deco buildings are not public properties but private in nature, “how can the state impose a colour code on properties where owners or residents reside”.