Ever heard whispers of a flyover blessed by a Pope? That’s Kemps Corner for you. We are standing at Kemps Corner. This upmarket neighborhood in South Mumbai hums with stories. It sits where Breach Candy, Warden Road, Pedder Road, and Nepean Sea Road meet.
Kemps Corner boasts fancy homes and high-end shops. But its most famous feature is the Kemps Corner flyover. Work on this flyover began in April 1964. It opened on April 14, 1965. You might recognize it from several films.
Interestingly, Kemps Corner got its name from Kemp and Co. This chemist and drug store once stood at the corner. It was next to the Towers of Silence. The police chowki is there now. Kemp and Co had a weighing machine. People went there weekly to weigh themselves. The building was torn down for the flyover.
The Kemps Corner flyover holds the distinction of being the first flyover in India. It was built in record time. It only took seven months to complete. This was despite unexpected foundation problems. The design had to be completely redone. There was a problem fitting the correct joint detail between the pre-stressed and RCC portions of the deck. Waiting for the correct material would have taken months.
The BMC wanted to open the bridge quickly. Designers confirmed no structural damage would occur. They warned motorists would feel a bump. A traffic official replied that he preferred bumps. He said they slowed traffic and reduced accidents.
The flyover even had a soft opening. Pope Paul VI visited. He was the first Pope to visit India.
For a time, the flyover became a local attraction. People walked its length for fun. Policemen had to be stationed to stop them.
Living near Kemps Corner offered unique views. Residents watched motorcades of visiting dignitaries. The Queen, the Shah of Iran, and Prince Charles all passed by. But when President Bill Clinton sped past in his bulletproof car, things changed. Kemps Corner became just a thoroughfare.
The flyover also brought problems. People used it as a public toilet. Speeding cars made it a racetrack at night. New Year’s Eve often saw crashes. The police added speed breakers to combat this.
Kundan Shah filmed a scene from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron under the flyover. Many films had chases that started in Singapore but ended at Kemps Corner.
Some say the Kemps Corner flyover is special. They say it will outlast others because the Pope blessed it.
Kemps Corner has changed a lot over the years. High-end stores and spas have replaced old shops. The area has evolved into a couture corner. But taxi drivers still know it as Kemps Corner.
Also Grand Paradi Towers in Kemps Corner is considered one of Mumbai’s most haunted locations.