Shivaji Park Residential Zone

The Shivaji Park Residential Zone refers to the cluster of residential buildings that flank the boundaries of Shivaji Park, the largest park in Mumbai, located in Dadar (W) in South-Central Mumbai. Most of the buildings in this residential zone were constructed in the early 1900s during British colonial rule in India, as a result of which many such buildings exhibit aspects of British Architecture. One of the earliest buildings constructed as part of the Shivaji Park Residential Zone was the Modak Bungalow on Shivaji Park Rd. No. 3. The building still stands in its colonial grandeur till date. Some of its prominent residents include Manohar Joshi,Raj Thackeray,Anup Jalota, Milind Soman as well as the Mayor of Mumbai, Shubha Raul. Others such as Sachin Tendulkar were born and brought up here.

In modern times though, one relates Shivaji Park more with being the cradle of Indian cricket, with its innumerable cricket academies like those of late Anna Vaidya and Ramakant Acharekar which produced several international cricketers for India. Some famous names being Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Pravin Amre, Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjarekar.

History

The Dadar-Matunga-Wadala-Sion scheme of 1899-1900 was the first planned suburban scheme in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The City Improvement Trust formulated this plan in order to relieve congestion in the centre of the town, following the plague epidemics of the 1890s. According to the survey plan, 60,000 people were to be housed at Dadar-Matunga and an equal number in Sion-Matunga. 85,000 people were to be accommodated in the developments in Sewri-Wadala.

The plans regulated constructions with emphasis on proper sanitation. No building was to be more than three storeys high, and the buildings were to have open spaces between them. The land-use was planned to be a mix of residential, commercial and institutional constructions. Parks and gardens were planned, and the streets were well laid out.

440 acres (1.8 km²) of land was procured and leased to the Government for selling. For the first time housing cooperatives were formed to take advantage of newly developed land. The Parsi and Hindu colonies in Dadar and the Tamil colony in Matunga were developed in this way.

Dadar was 6 miles away from Crawford Market by the newly constructed Mohammedali Road. The tramways were extended to this new suburb. The GIP constructed a bridge, now the Tilak Bridge, connecting the two suburban railways. In February 1925, the GIP (Great Indian Peninsular) Railways opened their suburban line, and started the work of electrifying the railways.

Among the institutions moved to Dadar according to the CIT plan were Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute and King George School, now called the Indian Education Society's Raja Shivaji High School.

Hand-in-hand with the development of the northern suburbs in the 1930s there was a lot of activity in the Dadar-Matunga area. The Hindu colony, north of Tilak Bridge, expanded up to Amber's Marge (then Kingsway) and around the Khodadad Circle. These developments were completed by 1935. In 1937 Ramnarain Ruia College was founded and in 1939 the Ramniranjan Podar College(both run by SP Mandali), thus completing a transition of Dadar from a residential suburb into a variegated enclave.

By 1937 Shivaji Park and the surrounding areas including the Shivaji Park Residential Zone were developed. Shivaji Park was to become an important stage in the political drama which led up to India's independence, and later political history of Bombay unfolded in the same park.Shivaji Park ground is famous as the Cricket Education ground. Many cricketers like Ashok Mankad, Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Hazare, Salim Durani, Shivalkar, Ajit Wadekar, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandip Patil, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli have trained here.

Post independence, numerous other political events such as the formation of Shiv Sena and other important political rallies have been held at or around Shivaji Park.

Present Day

Today, the Shivaji Park Residential Zone has become a highly sought after upper middle class residential enclave with numerous pre-colonial buildings undergoing redevelopment to form multistoreyed towers ranging from 7 storeys to 23 storeys. Redeveloped Buildings include Chanakya, Ashwamedh, Buildarch Tower, Atharva, Shivneri Heights, Royal Accord, Shree Apartments, Sankalp ,etc. One of the main reasons why residences in this locality are popular is because they offer an unhindered view of the Arabian Sea as well as that of Shivaji Park.Numerous other buildings are in the process of being redeveloped. However, the controversial and contantly changing Floor Space Index regulations have hindered the redevlopment process signifiantly. As such, the slowed redevelopment alongwith the ever-increasing demand for apartments in this locality have pushed up property prices to the range of Rs.12000 to Rs.20000 per square foot.

Attractions and Amenities

The ever increasing desire to reside in this locality can be attributed to the multitude of plush amenities, proximity to educational institutions and other recreational facilities provided in the vicinity.

These include-

Sports and Recreational Facilities

* Shivaji Park (For morning and evening walks)
* Dadar Beach
* Shivaji Park Gymkhana/ club
* Mahatma Gandhi Olympic Swimming Pool
* Children's Park
* Nana-Nani Park ( for the elderly)
* Samarth Vyayam Mandir ( health and exercise)
* Penkar's Gymnasium
* Crossword Corner ( bookstore and reading lounge)
* Kohinoor Mill Mall ( construction stalled)
* Shivaji Park Nagarik Sangh ( Residents Assoiation)
* Scouts Pavilion
* Veer Savarkar Smarak Recreational centre
* Reliance Web World (Located at Atharva)
* Taekwondo Assocation ( Mahim Sports club)
* cricket coaching institutes including the famed Ramakant Achrekar Institute that trained the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, etc.

Schools in close proximity

* Bombay Scottish School
* Victoria High School
* Balmohan Vidyamandir
* IES King George's School
* Ramnarain Ruia College
* Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics
* Ruparel College
* Kirti college
* IHM catering college
* Kohinoor catering college
* Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute

Religious Places of worship

* Udyan Ganesh Mandir
* Siddhivinayak temple
* Mahim Durgah and Mosque
* Victoria church
* St. Michaels church
* Our Lady of Salvation church ( Portuguese church)

Hospitals

* Hinduja Hospital
* Sushrusha Hospital

Restaurants and Fast Food Outlets

* Chandragupta
* Nebula
* Gypsy Corner
* Gypsy Chinese
* Tibbs Frankie
* Aaswad
* Cafe Coffee Day
* Barista Coffee