With the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) now operational, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun the next phase of the project—preparing reclaimed land for public open spaces. The civic body has initiated soil filling work to raise ground levels and enable future landscaping and recreational development along the stretch.
According to officials, the land will be elevated by up to 900 mm using sub-granular material and murum. This activity will cover nearly 65 hectares out of the total 111 hectares of reclaimed land created during the project. The work is being fast-tracked to ensure completion before the monsoon, as delays could affect the timeline for landscaping.
The need for additional filling arose after Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), which has been entrusted with developing and maintaining the open spaces, indicated that the earlier ground levels were inadequate for the proposed designs. In response, the BMC opted to modify the levels through existing contractors, avoiding the need for a fresh tender.
Parts of the reclaimed land have already been utilised for infrastructure such as interchanges, medians and access roads. In certain sections, particularly near Worli, earlier construction has already brought ground levels close to the required height, reducing the need for extensive additional work.
The Coastal Road project has generated over 100 hectares of land, which is now being planned as a mix of transport infrastructure and accessible public spaces. Given the shortage of large recreational areas in south Mumbai, these developments have drawn significant public interest.
Once the groundwork is completed, RIL is expected to undertake landscaping and long-term upkeep under its corporate social responsibility initiative, at no cost to the BMC. Plans include gardens, walking and cycling tracks, seating zones and other community-focused amenities.
Earlier proposals have outlined location-specific features such as a maidan at Breach Candy, themed gardens at Mahalaxmi, and viewing areas near Haji Ali. The Worli stretch is also expected to include recreational zones and public plazas, subject to final approvals.
While the Coastal Road aims to ease traffic congestion, the addition of green and open spaces is expected to enhance livability along Mumbai’s western waterfront.
Source: Prop News Time
