A group of 127 architects, urban planners, landscape designers and other professionals has appealed to the Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to adopt a long-term strategy for protecting Mumbai’s remaining public and ecological spaces.
The Mumbai Architects Collective (MAC), in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, raised concerns over increasing construction and commercialisation of public land. The collective said proposals involving playgrounds, parks, Coastal Road open spaces, former dairy plots, mangroves, salt pans and the Mahalaxmi Racecourse could have a wider impact on Mumbai’s public realm.
The architects said individual projects may have their own justifications, but their combined effect needs greater public scrutiny before changes to public assets become permanent.
Mumbai faces a shortage of open spaces
According to MAC, Mumbai has only 1.58 square metres of public open space per person, significantly lower than London’s 31.68 square metres and New York’s 26.4 square metres.
The collective argued that parks, playgrounds, wetlands and mangroves should be considered essential civic infrastructure rather than vacant land available for development.
“These spaces perform critical functions including stormwater absorption, flood mitigation and temperature regulation,” it said.
Development must match public infrastructure
MAC clarified that it is not opposed to housing, infrastructure or Mumbai’s overall development. However, it called for public land to be treated as a public trust and said rising population density should be accompanied by corresponding improvements in civic infrastructure.
The collective has also proposed that the BMC publish annual ward-wise reports detailing the creation of footpaths, parks and other public amenities. This, it said, would help citizens assess whether infrastructure is keeping pace with urban growth.
The letter was signed by prominent architects and planners including Alan Abraham, Brinda Somaya, Rahul Kadri, Neera Adarkar and PK Das. The collective has offered its expertise to help create a more resilient and liveable Mumbai while safeguarding public and ecological assets for future generations.
Source: Hindustan Times
