The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited tenders for a proposed underground pedestrian network connecting the Mahalaxmi Racecourse to two metro stations and the Coastal Road. The project forms part of the larger redevelopment of the 211-acre historic racecourse into what civic officials describe as Mumbai’s version of Central Park.
To assess the viability of the subterranean corridors, the BMC has appointed Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited to undertake a feasibility study. The proposed passageways will link the Nehru Science Centre and Acharya Atre Chowk stations on the Aqua Line to the racecourse’s planned basement-level infrastructure.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani confirmed that the subway project is estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore, while studies related to basement construction are still underway. The underground walkway is designed to provide direct access from the two metro stations to the racecourse basement, where the civic body plans to develop a public sports arena and a convention centre. From there, visitors will be able to reach the Mahalaxmi ground above through stairways.
The connectivity blueprint also includes a link via Annie Besant Road towards Haji Ali and integration with the Coastal Road parking facility, which has space for 1,200 cars and 100 buses. The objective is to enable uninterrupted pedestrian movement across nearly 300 acres of open land, combining 125 acres of the racecourse with 170 acres of reclaimed Coastal Road land.
According to the BMC, the underground network will streamline crowd management for the proposed park and sports complex while easing traffic congestion at surface level.
The plan has faced objections from the Mumbai Architects Collective, which cautioned in February that underground construction may affect the site’s natural drainage and potentially increase Floor Space Index for properties within 500 metres of metro stations.
The redevelopment follows a July 2024 agreement under which the BMC acquired 120 acres of the land, while the Royal Western India Turf Club retained a 30-year lease on 91 acres to continue racing operations until 2053.
Source: Swarajya
