Carmichael Road

Carmichael
Country India
State Maharashtra
District Mumbai City
Metro Mumbai
Languages
  Official Marathi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 400026[1]
Area code(s) 022
Vehicle registration MH 01
Civic agency BMC


Coordinates: 18°58′16″N 72°48′44″E / 18.971001°N 72.812265°E

Kamal Mahal in 1940

Carmichael Road is an upmarket residential street of Mumbai, India. Situated on a ridge in South Mumbai, it is now officially called M.L. Dahanukar Marg. With old style bungalows and apartment houses such as the art deco Kamal Mahal of film director, Kamal Amrohi, most known for Pakeezah (1972).[2] the street and surrounding neighbourhood is and has been home to Mumbai's rich and famous such as the Modys, the Commissariats, the Dahanukars, the Somaiyas, the Lalbhais, the Walchands and the Morarjees.

History

The street is likely named for David Fremantle Carmichael, former member of the Madras Legislative Council and British Indian Civil servant.

The hillslopes of street started being developed in the 1920s, with the bungalow of Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai being amongst the earliest, and by 1930 numerous large homes come up on the street, many built on Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 at the time.[3] The road is a declared heritage precinct, and falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone-2 and had a height restriction of 75 to 80 m, that is building can be maximum 25 storeyes high.[4] The road has only one high-rise building, the 24-storey Usha Kiran built the mid-1960s.[3]

Redevelopment on the road, comes under heritage rules, expect for a "cessed structure", which either has tenants or was constructed prior to 1940.[3] Over the year, many of the old buildings have been sold to developers, replaced by new ones, and often old residents have protested building of high-rise. Also in the neighbouring roads like Altamount Road, skyscrapers are coming up.[5][6] However, real estate princes have remained high nevertheless, on an average, prices range from INR40,000 (US$630) to INR90,000 (US$1,400) per sq ft.[3][4] In 2010, Villa Nirmala, 60-year-old bungalow on the street, once owned by Khanderao Gaekwar, and later by the Wagles and Lalvanis families, sold for INR3 billion (US$48 million),[3] also in same year, an apartment in the Kamal Mahal building fetched INR330 million (US$5.2 million).[2]

Notable residents

The street has official residences of the Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust and the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, besides consulates of Japan, China and Belgium.[7]

Some of the notable residents have been Ashok Kumar Jain, Chairman, Bennet & Colemann, The Times of India group,[8] Andrew Geddis, industrialist, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group,[9] Ratan Tata chairman Tata Group,[9] J.R.D. Tata, chairman Tata Group,[9] Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Group .[9]

See also

References

  1. "Pin code : Carmichael, Mumbai". pincode.org.in. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "High life: Flat on Carmichael Rd fetches Rs 33 cr". The Times of India. 30 April 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "60-yr-old south Mumbai bungalow sold for Rs 300cr". The Times of India. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Sajjan Jindal puts Morena House on the block". The Times of India. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  5. "Most reserved BMC plots unused". The Times of India. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  6. "Tardeo skyscrapers may hurt property prices in the area". The Times of India. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  7. "Importance of being Carmichael Road". Indian Express. 15 January 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  8. "Ashok Jain arrested". Indian Express. 4 July 1998. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Kumar Birla, too, homes in on Carmichael Road". The Times of India. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2013.

External links