Residents of Breach Candy have appealed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to retain Tata Garden as a standalone public garden and oppose plans to create a third access point to the upcoming Coastal Green Spaces through Bhulabhai Desai Road, citing concerns over increased traffic congestion in the neighbourhood.
In a letter submitted to the Municipal Commissioner on June 16, the Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF), along with the Breach Candy Advanced Locality Management (ALM), expressed support for the development of public open spaces on land reclaimed under the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. However, the groups emphasised that the project should also protect the interests of residents living in the surrounding areas.
The residents have proposed the creation of a continuous green buffer of dense native trees along the residential edge of the reclaimed land, describing it as “critical climate infrastructure”. They said the green belt would help reduce heat, improve air quality, support biodiversity, minimise noise and light pollution, and provide privacy for nearby residential buildings.
The letter also urged the civic body to restore the former Tata Garden as an independent neighbourhood park instead of merging it with the larger Coastal Green Spaces project.
“The neighbourhood already has two access points to the Coastal Road and Promenade through the Amarsons and Akruti underpasses. Residents do not support the creation of a third access point through Tata Garden. Any additional access should be considered from the Nepean Sea Road or Haji Ali side, and all vehicular access, parking and visitor management should be provided directly from Coastal Road infrastructure. Before any decisions are taken regarding access arrangements or parking facilities, a comprehensive traffic impact assessment should be completed and publicly shared,” the letter stated.
On June 12, representatives of the residents met BMC officials to discuss their concerns. A team from Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), which was appointed by the BMC last year to design and develop the Coastal Road open spaces, also attended the meeting.
The proposed master plan for the reclaimed open spaces includes a waterfront event plaza overlooking the Arabian Sea, pickleball and padel courts, food trucks, and a petting zoo featuring duck and turtle ponds. The plan has already been presented before the BMC’s landscaping committee for consideration.
Source: The Times of India
