India, Feb. 23 -- After decades of identifying itself with the glittering arc of Marine Drive, famously known as the Queen's Necklace, Mumbai is set to acquire what urban planners are calling a new "Green Necklace": a 70-hectare stretch of gardens, forests and public spaces along the Coastal Road.

The proposed open spaces, extending from Priyadarshini Park near Nepeansea Road through Mahalaxmi and Haji Ali to Worli, are being planned as a continuous waterfront public realm aimed at restoring green cover and pedestrian access to the coast. According to the masterplan, nearly 60,000 trees will be planted, particularly across the wider southern stretches. (SEE BOX)

The Rs.400-crore estimated project is being developed by Reliance Industrie...