Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Welcome to The South Mumbai Blog


Welcome to The South Mumbai Blog. It's meant for you if you live in South Mumbai, work in South Mumbai, visit South Mumbai, want to know more about South Mumbai, have been making or wish to make a difference to South Mumbai or simply .... care about South Mumbai! And as such, this would include everyone; if not always, at least at some time in their lives.

What does South Mumbai include?

Quite a lot. It is the southern-most zone of the Island city of Mumbai, which is the financial capital of India and the capital of the State of Maharashtra. This zone comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas. In its avatar it is exclusive in many ways but is a warm and welcoming area, one with a big heart.

The Electoral constituency of South Mumbai extends from Bombay Central to Colaba, most city residents use the term to refer to the stretch extending from Colaba to Mahim, which is also known as Mumbai City or 'Island City. The area is delimited on the east by Mumbai harbour and on the west by the Arabian Sea. The areas from Bandra and beyond form a part of Suburban Mumbai.

South Mumbai is home to the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Its primary business districts are the Fort, Nariman Point, Ballard Estate and more recently Lower Parel (Upper Worli). Probably all the consulates, museums and old theatres are located in South Mumbai. Many leading Indian and multi-national companies are headquartered here. A few of the city's prestigious schools and colleges are also located here. Victoria Terminus(VT) and Churchgate serve as headquarters and starting point for country's Central and Western Railway lines respectively.

In South Mumbai, all utility services and civic amenities necessary for smooth commercial trade - such as an uninterrupted supply of power - are available around the clock. A particular feature that distinguishes South Mumbai (or Island City) from the rest of Mumbai is the absence of autorickshaws. Only Yellow-top taxis are permitted to ply in South Mumbai. It houses a significant proportion of prime upmarket residential neighbourhoods of Mumbai including: Peddar Road, Nepean Sea Road, Breach Candy and Walkeshwar Road forming a sort of golden quadrilateral and also includes some of the affluent boulevards in the world, more prominently the Hanging Gardens, the Altamont Road and the Carmichael Road.

Many distinctive sporting clubs have been an integral part of South Mumbai landscape like the Willingdon Sports Club, the Turf Club at racecourse, the Bombay Gymkhana, the National Sports Club, the W.I.A.A Club and the much acclaimed Cricketing Grounds housed in the Cricket Club of India (the Brabourne Stadium) and Bombay Cricket Association (the Wankhede Stadium). South Mumbai is also the home to several of the city's sporting grounds, including the Cooperage, Azad Maidan and Oval Maidan.

Although land reclamation has allowed the southern-most tip of the district to double in size since the 1970s, the business districts face an acute shortfall of real estate.

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