“South Mumbai is often known as residency of riches, Yet in same location the only sand beach called ‘Dadar Chowpatty’ is dirty and filthy as of 2013. Its 2016 as of updating this article and things seems to improve a little with ‘swachh bharat abhiyan’ activities. Upon audit and reports from leading news media like Hindustan Times and other NGO’s, activists it may soon see some good light that may attract more visitors to this unsafe beach. This Chowpatty beach is a small and less crowded rocky beach with little sand around. People comes here to enjoy silence, breeze, sunset view and the giant view of Bandra Worli Sea Link bridge. Dadar beach is scenic with couple of attractions frequently visited by locals, at walk able distance from shivaji park. Lets understand the near and arounds of this lonely sandy beach of Mumbai located near shivaji park and Chaityabhoomi location in Dadar west. Learn more about renovation, beautification and face lifts planned beginning this year 2015 and more..”
Location
Reaching Dadar beach is simple as it is located in extreme West at about 20 minutes walking distance from Railway station. Get down from station and walk straight on Ranade road towards Gokhale Road and you will get a circle junction. Walk straight towards Veer Savarkar Road and once reached Veer savarkar road crossing you can see the beach entrance connected to Chaityabhoomi. The beach has two entrance, one from South and other from North, North side location is safer to enter at late evenings as their is a lamppost from ‘Veer Baji Prabhu Udyan’, a garden connected to beach. Also to note that this beach is not visitor friendly and clean, seashore is stinky with litters, So visiting it before sunset is preferred, specially for girls and women even if its not isolated and has police presence around. Yes and awesome view of Bandra Worli Sea Link is available with those soothing sea shore water sounds that hits the rocks.
Beach Safety
No, unlike Juhu Chowpatty and Girgaum beach, this is not a safe beach when it comes to swimming at sandy shore as their is not alerts or board signs about high / low tides and dangers inside water. As said only one lamppost so lack of proper lighting and illumination here which attracts smokers, drinkers as seen by locals who frequently visit here. The rocky entrance at south side of beach is the only place to sit which is mostly seen occupied by group of males. People are found staring girls which makes this attraction unsafe for women. Their is no lifeguard and proper police patrolling on beach. although a police chowky is present in the area. It is said that lighting are put on only during major two festivals, which are Ganesh Visarjan days and Ambedkar Jayanti. No CCTV makes this beach more vulnerable for illegal activities and if something happens one cannot get caught easily.
Facilities
This is no safety as said, no CCTV, no lifeguards, less of police presence here. Day by day the garbage are washed towards sea shore, their is no dustbin except one at entrance always filled with plastic bottles, old garlands etc. Also as Mahim Creek is close to this beach, waste like coconuts, incense sticks, flowers, garlands, plastic wrappers and other waste that goes to sea is thrown back to this beach. If you think of relaxing on this beach, then it is not possible as no proper seating is available except the rocks which are not comfortable and family friendly, people are seen smoking and drinking liquors and smartly hide it when someone around. No timings restrictions of such beach or sign boards of any kind found. Nature call ? Give it all inside the sea or some aside space as their are no toilets available here since years now. In north side of beach some refreshment can be found like Bhelpuri wala, chaat corner along with Horse riding option. Parking is available but at road side of entrance which is not a dedicated parking for beach.
Promenade Renovation and Beautification
This beach being one of the only option for Maharastrian dominated residential who are in major here at Dadar and specially near and around shivaji park location, was or i can say still lacking lots in terms of face lift, beautification, security and feel good factor to enjoy the nature gift at this promenade. The already passed project of renovating chowpatty in a planned manner with lots of funds poured in project by BMC, local MLA’s and others if any, this place has started initial work as MMB (Maharashtra Maritime Board) laying the tetra pods which saves beach sand, soil erosion, and saves during high tides related problems etc. Although currently local residents and most of those having sea view residents are unhappy with the said unplanned tetrapod installation work as few say they are not as per needed and few says it is blocking the beautiful view for which they pay such huge amount, add-ons to creating insecure feel as anti social elements uses such stones for activities. One of the major problem with same is that this beach is major used during ganesh visarjan, chhat pooja and such festivals apart from regular citizen visits, and no provision for routing crowd has been made as these tetra pods seems to be a major hurdle during such upcoming events.
Apart from BMC are Local residents, MLA’s, Groups and activists behind the support and planning of this facelift and beautification of beach area. Active groups like Motley which are trying hard since few years now to convince government to get the plans on roll and reserve funds for such required renovations. After such a long try, finally as the work has begin with properly planned and design layouts by architects and engineer groups like Exigo, the stretch between Chowpatty promenade starting at Chaitanya bhoomi till Mahim fort which is about 2 kilometers in length has a ray of hope now and are waiting for the new view to be seen in real as planned. The actual renovation will take off anytime this year starting 2015 and tetra pods installation which is done is just a glimpse of new and beautiful looking Dadar’s own chowpatty beach.
Locations to get facelift are The Chowpatty beach, Kirti College location all towards mahim fort with proper nodes planned and to be set-up. Few changes for Mahim creek has also been planned as it takes in all city waste and this promenade being very close to same, Yet as of day no proper information about same is available. The footfalls at this promenade after the renovation done will see small children playing location, seating and walking areas for elderly, special walking and jogging zone, proper garbage facilities with clean and usable wash rooms, cycling tracks, Nice looking flower and show plans to be places in area along with newly planted palm trees and some beautification art works via painting and using natural real resources like fishing nets and boats which keeps the sea front looks natural. Proper seating and resting points with shades are also planned which citizens will surely like and will be helpful during monsoon seasons for every age to get benefited. Floor work and paving will be specially designed so that it will not be slippery during rainy season, looks elegant and get be tough to withstand the high tight waves, And so granite and basalt blocks will be used at this locations. For safety and security of citizens, specially for women and girls hanging out alone proper guards and police patrolling is expected along with the enlightening solar lights and stands.
Places to See Near by this Chowpatty
- Bandra Worli Sea Link
- Dadar Market, Near Station
- Worli Seaface
- Worli Koliwada
- Shivaji Park Garden (Just an Open Public Garden and Nothing more).
- Famous Siddhivinayak Temple at Prabhadevi.
- Bandra Reclamation (15 mins in Taxi from Beach).
- See Also other beaches in Mumbai with Maps, Addresses, Specialities, Pictures which is all for best and Safe beaches in Mumbai.
