The Mumbai district collectorate has decided to widen the road leading to Haji Ali Dargah from 5 meters to 10 meters. Moreover, in response to the request of the dargah management, the height of the road will also be increased. Additionally, a parapet wall will be erected on both sides of the road to protect the devotees from the high tides.
The project, approved by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Authority in June this year, will be implemented through PWD's Harbor Engineering at a cost of INR 19 crore.
Balasaheb Nanavare, executive engineer of the department confirmed the widening of the access road and installation of anti-erosion tetrapods.
The work will be completed in 18 months by sanctioning the amount of expenditure from the funds of the District Planning and Development Committee.
The dargah is situated on an island 500 meters from the Worli coast. The existing road connecting the dargah to the coast is heavily trafficked on Fridays. The 4.5 meter wide path has no railings and accidents occur when devotees fall into the sea.
In the proposed project, 264 meters long walls will be constructed on both sides of the route. The height of this road will also be increased to seven meters. The design has already been approved by the Central Water and Power Research Center (CWPRS).
Dargah Trustee Suhel Khandwani said that the entire route will be beautified by the government. BJP leader Devendra Fadanvis and Congress leader Aslam Sheikh took the initiative for this project.
Haji Ali Dargah attracts between 10,000 to 15,000 visitors daily. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, this number rises to 20,000 to 30,000 people. During Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, known as Ramadhan Eid and Bakri Eid respectively, thousands of devotees flock to the Dargah.
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