Mumbai: BMC To Launch WhatsApp Booking For Malabar Hill Elevated Nature Trail Amid Growing Footfall

Mumbai: In a bid to make the booking process more seamless for visitors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to introduce a dedicated WhatsApp booking system for the elevated nature trail at Malabar Hill. The move comes as the popular green walkway, modelled on Singapore’s Tree-top Walk, continues to draw thousands of tourists despite the onset of the monsoon.

Slight Dip In Footfall In June

Since its inauguration in March 2025, the trail has become a much-loved escape in the heart of Mumbai, offering a rare slice of serenity amid the city’s chaos. However, civic officials have noted a dip in footfall, from 55,000 in May to 45,000 in June, largely attributed to seasonal rains and an underwhelming digital booking experience.

Currently, visitors must pre-book one-hour slots through the BMC’s website, with a cap of 200 people per slot. Weekend slots are usually filled days in advance. Yet the booking platform, developed by an external agency, has limited flexibility and often fails to accommodate last-minute visitors, even when slots remain unused.

“Someone arriving at 6 pm during peak hours is often turned away despite availability, simply because they didn’t book online earlier,” said a senior BMC official, as quoted by Mid-day. “We’re now overhauling the backend and bringing development in-house to solve these issues,” the official added.

Booking Slots Likely To Be Revised

The new WhatsApp-based system will allow on-the-spot bookings, enabling visitors to check availability and book within minutes. In addition, the BMC is planning to revise the rigid one-hour booking slots, allowing shorter visits of 15 or 30 minutes. Officials are even considering five-minute booking windows during peak hours to maximise usage.

Chatbot Likely To Be Introduced

A chatbot is also in the pipeline to assist users with queries and streamline the reservation process further. The civic body hopes these measures will not only improve the visitor experience but also ensure the nature trail’s full capacity is utilised effectively, especially on weekends and holidays. With the upgrades, the BMC aims to relaunch the improved system ahead of the upcoming post-monsoon tourist season.

The Malabar Hill walkway has become a symbol of urban eco-tourism, and with WhatsApp-based access soon going live, BMC hopes it will become even more accessible to citizens and tourists alike.