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With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning to involve private entities in the development and maintenance of open spaces along the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), citizens have urged the civic body to establish a dense, native tree forest on a 70-hectare land parcel near the arterial road. The 7.5-km-long promenade is expected to open by May 2025, but development on the landward side is yet to commence. In response, Save Our Coast Mumbai has initiated an online petition, which has garnered over 13,500 signatures, calling for ecological zoning, transparent public consultation, and the integration of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) to enhance air quality and climate resilience. Citizens advocate for a zoning strategy that includes a dense forest for residential protection, a green public area, and walking trails with medicinal and fruit-bearing trees.
As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeks to engage private parties in the development and upkeep of open spaces along the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), local residents have urged the civic body to transform a 70-hectare land parcel into a dense, native tree forest. This land, located along the arterial road, is part of the 111 hectares reclaimed from the sea for the project. Advertisement
Out of the reclaimed area, BMC has allocated 70 hectares for an open landscape featuring green spaces, gardens, cycling tracks, and amphitheatres. Additionally, a new 7.5-km-long promenade, similar to Marine Drive, is planned along the city's coast. While the promenade is expected to be operational by May 2025, work on the landward open spaces has yet not begun.
The BMC is seeking private partners to help develop the open space, with an estimated cost of Rs. 400 crores to be covered under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Earlier this year, BMC invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from private firms and voluntary organisations for the design, development, and maintenance of this extensive land parcel.
Meanwhile, the citizen group 'Save Our Coast Mumbai' has launched an online petition on Change.org, addressed to both the Central and State Governments as well as the BMC. The petition emphasises that a much-needed green lung would significantly improve Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) by at least 50-100 points. With over 13,500 signatories, the petition calls on the authorities to commit to preserving the proposed Coastal Forest, ensuring it remains free from commercial exploitation, and to implement transparent public consultations in planning.
It further advocates for ecological zoning to maximise community benefits, the formation of a citizen-government oversight committee for accountability, and legal protections to prevent future encroachments. Additionally, the petitioners stress the importance of incorporating the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) into the forest's development to enhance air quality, flood mitigation, and urban cooling.
The petitioners have proposed an east-west zoning approach, suggesting that the eastern buffer be developed as a dense forest to shield residential areas, while the western space remains a publicly accessible green zone with native flora. For the central forest area, they recommend walking trails featuring medicinal and fruit-bearing trees. They assert that similar urban forests in other major cities worldwide have successfully improved air quality, proving the effectiveness of such initiatives.
Prior to finalising the EoI, BMC had also sought suggestions and objections from the public regarding the open space roadmap, particularly after initial plans faced criticism from urban planners and architects within the city.
With increasing concerns over air quality, climate resilience, and public access to green spaces, citizens have taken a proactive stance in advocating for an ecologically responsible approach. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether authorities will incorporate public suggestions and prioritise ecological sustainability over commercial interests. If executed correctly, this initiative could serve as a model for other urban centres seeking to balance infrastructure growth with environmental preservation.
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