A citizens’ group has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani to prioritise a large native coastal forest over visitor-oriented attractions in the planned 130-acre green development along Mumbai’s Coastal Road.
The appeal comes days after Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) appointed New York-based landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations to design the proposed “green necklace” on reclaimed land along the southern stretch of the Coastal Road.
Mumbai Coastal Forest, in separate letters sent on Sunday, described the reclaimed area as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to establish a substantial coastal forest that could function as both climate infrastructure and public open space.
The group said it was “very concerned” that the proposed masterplan appeared to be taking an attractions-led approach. It specifically raised concerns over plans involving ticketed zones, an aviary, zoo and petting zoo, nature theatre, children’s play areas, food and beverage facilities, food trucks, parking and other visitor infrastructure.
The proposed gardens are expected to feature landscaped areas, recreational facilities, sports amenities, children’s play spaces, cultural zones and food outlets.
Ambani has compared the planned gardens with New York’s Central Park, London’s Hyde Park and Singapore’s Botanic Gardens. In its communication to her, the citizens’ group argued that the landscape and ecological character of the site should remain central to the project.
According to the group, recreational facilities can be incorporated but should be embedded within a forested landscape rather than dominate the green spaces.
It has sought at least a 15-metre-wide dense native tree buffer along residential buildings bordering the reclaimed land, along with a thick coastal buffer facing the sea. It also called for greater forest cover and limited hardscape, with multilayered, native and salt-tolerant vegetation to support biodiversity, stormwater absorption and climate resilience.
Traffic concerns
The group has also flagged potential traffic and crowd-management challenges. It noted that neighbouring residential areas are more than a century old and have narrow roads that may not be equipped for large visitor volumes.
It has therefore sought a detailed traffic, pedestrian and crowd-management plan before access arrangements are finalised, suggesting that visitor movement should primarily use the Coastal Road and promenade rather than residential streets.
“Recreational attractions can be created elsewhere,” the group argued, while Mumbai has few opportunities to create a large-scale coastal urban forest in the heart of the city.
A Reliance spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by a reporting journalist.
Source: Hindustan Times
