Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Tree-lined walkways, expansive green lawns and an underground sports complex may soon shape up into one of Mumbai’s most recognizable open spaces.
This is the vision that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has for the proposed Central Park at Mahalaxmi Race Course, billed as one of the biggest urban green projects announced for the city in recent years.
Unveiled on Monday, December 15, the plan aims to integrate a portion of the historic Mahalaxmi Racecourse with land reclaimed through the city’s coastal road project to create a single, vast public park.
According to Shinde, the Central Park will be spread over about 295 acres, of which about 125 acres will come from the race course and the remaining 170 acres will come from the coastal road land.
no construction above ground
The proposed park is being projected primarily as a green, public space open to all. There will be no above-ground construction except walking and jogging tracks to preserve open sight lines and ensure green cover in the densest part of the city, officials said.
One of the centerpieces of the plan is a 10 lakh sq ft underground sports complex, which is expected to have international standard facilities along with space for traditional Indian sports like Kho-Kho and Kabaddi.
The government said the project, designed by architect Hafeez Contractor, takes into account the heritage character of the racecourse and will also allow racing activities to continue.
The proposal also includes new access infrastructure. The tender for the 1,200 meter long tunnel connecting the park to the Science Center metro station and the coastal road has already been floated.
Parking facilities have been planned along this route to manage the influx of visitors, while officials have reiterated that most of the built infrastructure will remain underground to maintain the green character of the park.
However, the announcement came hours before the State Election Commission announced the schedule for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, leading to the implementation of the model code of conduct, a timing that has attracted attention.
Officials have said Mahalaxmi Racecourse will continue to operate, with its main structures and racing functions intact, even though a portion of the land has been opened for public use. Detailed timelines for the construction and implementation of the project have not yet been announced.
The land now earmarked for Central Park is at the center of a long-running dispute. Earlier this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took control of about 120 acres of racecourse land, ending years of uncertainty following the expiry of the lease by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) in 2013.
Under the agreement, 120 acres of the 211-acre racecourse plot is now under the control of the BMC, while the Royal Western India Turf Club holds the remaining land for racing and allied activities.
The acquisition and redevelopment plans had sparked protests from residents, pedestrians and heritage activists. Opponents argued that the racecourse serves as an important green lung for South Mumbai and is a Grade II-B heritage site, where citizens come daily for recreation. Concerns were also raised over the potential for commercial construction and loss of tree cover.
Civic and state officials have consistently stated that the site will be developed as a public park with minimal surface construction, and that the heritage and environmental value of the racecourse will be preserved as part of the Central Park project.