January 17, 2026: Mumbai has unveiled plans for a marina-led waterfront development that could place the city alongside some of the world’s most recognised coastal destinations. If successful, the Bandra Bay project may also serve as a template for similar developments across India, signalling a shift in how Indian cities engage with their coastlines.
Long identified with crowded and poorly maintained beaches, Mumbai is now attempting to reposition itself as a global coastal city with high-quality waterfront spaces. The Bandra Bay vision imagines a marina framed by organised streets, high-end retail, premium dining, and towers offering sea-facing views. While public beaches such as Juhu and Chowpatty remain popular, they lack the scale and polish of international waterfront landmarks like Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay or Dubai Marina. The announcement of Bandra Bay reflects growing confidence in Mumbai’s ability to compete on that stage.
The idea was formally introduced in October 2025, when Maharashtra Minister of Information Ashish Shelar described it as a blueprint for a “future where global standards of living, working, and leisure converge to create a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable urban ecosystem.” The concept was developed by Sumesh Mishra and Murtaza Vapiwala, co-founders of proptech firm Luxury Lighthouse, which aims to “optimise value for every stakeholder—from investors and developers to end-users and the city itself.”
According to Mishra, “The planned Bandra Bay precinct spans approximately eight million square feet of development, integrating luxury residential, retail, and leisure zones across multiple contiguous parcels in Bandra Reclamation.” These parcels include land owned by MSRTC, MHADA and private entities, unified under a single urban design framework. “This integrated plan will transform an underutilised coastal stretch into Mumbai’s most iconic address—an urban district that harmonises real estate, lifestyle, and public spaces on a scale the city has not witnessed before,” he added.
In India, waterfront land has traditionally been occupied by ports, warehouses or informal settlements. However, after several years of steady luxury housing demand, Mumbai is now looking beyond isolated projects to reimagine entire coastal precincts, with Bandra Bay emerging as a potential turning point in the city’s urban evolution.
