Kennedy Sea-Face Lamp-Post

From a favourite sunset haunt to an art deco paradise, Marine Drive is one of the most stunning locations in Mumbai. Officially named Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, it is also popularly called the Queen’s Necklace because the road, with its row of glittering streetlights, resembles a necklace during night-time.

The construction of Marine Drive took place during the first half of the 20th century as part of the Back Bay Reclamation Scheme during the British era. The purpose of this undertaking was to create an upmarket residential and commercial district as well as to expand the land, thus providing relief from the traffic congestion in the older parts of the city. Nariman Point is located at Marine Drive's southern end while Malabar Hill is located at its northern end.

Near Girgaum Chowpatty, which is to the north of Marine Drive, there is an old artistically designed lamp-post. On the lamp-post, there is an inscription which reads: Kennedy Sea-Face. Commenced 18th December 1915. Completed 1920.

When Marine Drive was built, it was originally called Kennedy Sea-Face, after Sir Michael Kennedy, who was the secretary of the city’s public works department during that era. According to historians and experts, the lamp post was installed at the spot from where the construction of the retaining wall had started.