Residents of Breach Candy have expressed growing concerns regarding sea water infiltration at the site of an underground car park being constructed at the Amarsons exit of Mumbai’s Coastal Road.
The facility, intended to accommodate 850 vehicles, has been plagued by persistent sea water seepage, which locals attribute to the ongoing excavation work. One resident, who has observed the issue closely, reported that despite the installation of continuous pumping systems designed to redirect the infiltrating sea water back into the ocean, the problem has persisted for over a month. “A deep trench has been dug on reclaimed land, leading to continual sea water inflow through ground-level joints. Despite 24×7 pumping efforts, the issue remains unresolved, and there has been no response to our queries addressed to the authorities,” the resident lamented.
The underground parking facilities along the Coastal Road are part of a larger project that includes provisions for 1,857 vehicles across four locations: Amarsons at Breach Candy, NSCI Worli, near Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk, and another site opposite Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli. According to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a sea wall constructed with “geotextile membranes” has been employed at the site. These membranes are designed to be porous to allow the passage of water. “The construction is still in the excavation phase, and the permeable nature of the sea wall is intended to manage water ingress,” stated a BMC spokesperson.
However, local sentiment is mixed regarding the project’s impact. One resident voiced a preference for a Miyawaki forest, arguing that the addition of a car park would exacerbate traffic congestion in the area. “The coastal road project has already increased traffic flow. Introducing more vehicle storage facilities will likely intensify the issue,” she noted. As the construction progresses, the challenge of managing sea water seepage remains a critical concern, underscoring the need for effective solutions to ensure the structural integrity and functionality of the underground car park.
