Plans to develop a vast underground sports and parking complex beneath the Mahalaxmi Racecourse have moved into a crucial phase, with designers detailing a flood-control mechanism aimed at protecting one of Mumbai’s most waterlogging-prone zones. At the heart of the proposal is a continuous, ravine-like drainage and water-treatment channel planned around the subterranean structure to manage stormwater during intense rainfall.
Officials familiar with the blueprint said the below-ground stadium and parking facilities are part of a wider redevelopment vision that includes landscaped gardens, an upgraded racing track and allied infrastructure across the 120-acre property. Authorities have stressed that the open and green nature of the racecourse will largely remain intact, even as underground additions are considered.
The proposed drainage corridor is conceived as a managed catchment system that responds to differences in terrain and rainfall intensity. Urban planners involved in preliminary discussions say the idea is to slow, store and gradually discharge rainwater instead of channeling it directly into the city’s already strained drainage network. This method, in principle, could curb localized flooding while aiding natural water filtration.
However, the concept has raised concerns within sections of the city’s architectural fraternity. The Mumbai Architects Collective has warned that extensive sub-surface construction may undermine the racecourse’s longstanding function as a natural floodplain. The open grounds currently absorb excess rainwater during heavy showers and high tides, allowing gradual percolation.
Civic officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have clarified that the proposal remains at a conceptual stage, with no final design approved. They emphasised that hydrological assessments, drainage modeling and environmental impact studies will guide further decisions. Additional public consultations and technical reviews are expected before the project advances.
Source: Urban Acres
