Mumbai: There is good news for the Visa hopefuls waiting outside the US consulates in Mumbai’s BKC. For the first time, thousands of visa applicants queuing up for different visas at the US Consulate can now rest on comfortable, recycled plastic benches installed outside, officials said on Monday.
The bench project is a collaboration between the US Consulate, the Regional Passport Office, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, and other agencies.
The project was launched in March, and on Monday, US Consul General in Mumbai, Mike Hankey, inaugurated the set of 70 benches around its sprawling premises in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), which is now connected by the city’s first fully underground Metro 3 line.
Project Mumbai created the benches at zero cost from plastic waste dumped all over the city. The benches feature unique artworks by underprivileged artists of the teeming metropolis.
It features slogans like “Mumbai Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega” (I will do anything for Mumbai), “Local Train. Yatri Kripya Dhyan De” (Local Train. Passengers Please Pay Attention”), a familiar announcement that resounds in the ears of millions of Mumbai commuters daily, or an image of the iconic Bandra-Worli Sealink, among other such artworks.
These are part of a significant initiative to improve the consular experience for visa applicants. They are not just logistical upgrades but a commitment to supporting thousands of visa applicants and their families.
Hema Malini Staged 9 Forms of Goddess Durga in Mathura on 4th Day of Navratri
“This project represents more than just an elevation of facilities. It’s a collaboration that reflects our commitment to improving the visa application process while aligning with the US Mission’s goals of urban waste management and sustainability,” Hankey said.
The US Consulate and the Indian Regional Passport Office process thousands of applicants daily in BKC, and the visa applicants and their families often wait for hours outside the facilities in all weathers until their appointment times.
These eco-friendly and recycled benches, designed to enhance comfort and improve applicants’ overall experience, would also benefit neighbouring businesses and institutions in the thriving central business district of BKC. The Mumbai Metro Line 3, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday, links the district.
The officials said that 50 waste receptacles will also be installed alongside these benches, and future phases will include additional benches and restroom facilities on Avenue 1.
Hankey added that the upcycled benches are part of the efforts to facilitate Indian applicants’ timely travel to the US, which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the US-India relationship.
“This partnership between the government, NGOs, and private sectors is a model of sustainable urban planning that benefits both the local community and US-India relations,” Hankey said at the unveiling ceremony.
He assured the US Consulate of its commitment to working closely with local and national partners to locate innovative solutions that improve the visa application process and pedestrian movement in the broader BKC community.
For more updates Subscribe to Media Eye News
IANS
