BMC Opens Doors To Private Firms For Coastal Road Spaces: 53 Acres Up For Grabs

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised its plans for the 53 acres of reclaimed open spaces along the Mumbai coastal road, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. Instead of managing the development and maintenance itself, the civic body is now inviting expressions of interest (EOIs) from private firms to undertake the project. This change, announced on Friday, opens up the possibility of limited commercial use of the spaces, subject to approval from the Supreme Court.

The EOIs, which must be submitted by February 12, also cover the maintenance of a nearly 7 kilometres-long promenade stretching from Priyadarshini Park to Worli. The promenade is expected to open by late February or early March. Firms interested in these projects are required to operate as "volunteer agencies," bearing the costs for a 30-year term, which can be extended by another 30 years. In return, they will gain naming rights for the gardens they develop, pending state government approval.

Photo Credit: PTI

As per the same report, a senior BMC official explained the reason for the shift: "We abandoned the earlier tender process due to high costs, as BMC's finances are stretched because of ongoing infrastructure projects. Similar to how CSR funds were used for beautifying the road medians, we believe the open spaces and promenade can also be developed this way."

The Supreme Court had previously allowed the BMC to construct the coastal road on reclaimed land under the condition that it would not be used for residential or commercial purposes. In December 2024, the BMC assured in response to a right-to-information request that these spaces would remain public, with no encroachments or hoardings.

However, the EOIs issued on Friday include a clause indicating that volunteer agencies may engage in limited commercial activities, provided they adhere to guidelines and secure Supreme Court approval. This could potentially allow firms to recover operational costs.

With this new approach, the earlier design by consulting firm AECOM, which envisioned theme-based sections like green shore, nature's cove, and park line, might undergo changes based on proposals from private firms. "We may offer the entire 53 acres to one company or divide it among multiple firms, depending on their proposals," the official noted, according to the HT report.

The decision has raised concerns among citizens and activists. Architect Alan Abraham criticised the move, calling it a step towards privatisation of public spaces. A member of the Breach Candy Residents Forum also questioned BMC's intentions, expressing doubts about the promises made during earlier presentations of the project.

Additionally, work on an underground car park near Breach Candy has been paused since November, following objections from the residents' forum and support from MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

As the project progresses, the final outcome will depend on the proposals received and approvals granted, leaving the future of Mumbai's reclaimed open spaces uncertain.