Residents are calling for the conversion of a 70-hectare plot of land into a dense native forest as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeks to engage private organisations in the creation and upkeep of open spaces along the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP). This area is considered a potential green lung for the city and is one of the 111 hectares of land that were recovered from the sea for the project.
BMC has set aside 70 hectares of the reclaimed ground for open landscapes, which include gardens, amphitheatres, bike lanes, and green areas. Additionally, the city’s coastline will be improved with a 7.5-kilometer promenade that is modelled after Marine Drive. Although the promenade is expected to be finished by May 2025, the open spaces still need to be worked on.
With an estimated budget of ₹400 crores, BMC has asked private companies and non-profits to donate to this project through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Earlier this year, an Expression of Interest (EoI) was released for the land parcel’s design, development, and long-term upkeep.
Concurrently, the citizen organisation “Save Our Coast Mumbai” has started a Change.org petition to persuade the government to turn the area into a coastal forest. More than 13,500 individuals have signed the petition, which claims that the project might raise Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) by 50–100 points. It demands open public consultations, legal safeguards against commercial exploitation, and the incorporation of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) to improve urban cooling, flood prevention, and air quality.
The group suggests an east-west zoning paradigm, with a publicly accessible green space with native plants in the west and a dense forest in the east serving as a buffer for residential areas. Additionally recommended is a core woodland area with walking routes bordered by fruit-bearing and medicinal trees. The petition details successful urban forest initiatives in various places around the world, highlighting how well they work to reduce pollution and improve environmental resilience.
After architects and urban planners criticised previous proposals, BMC asked for public input on the open space development plan before completing the EoI. The upcoming months will be crucial in evaluating whether authorities put ecological sustainability ahead of economic interests, given the mounting worries about climate resilience, air quality, and fair public access to open places. This project could set the standard for striking a balance between environmental preservation and the expansion of urban infrastructure if it is carried out successfully.
Source: Prop News Time
