The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to review the utilisation of open spaces on the land reclaimed for the Coastal Road project (south). This directive follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by architect, who has advocated for the establishment of an independent expert panel to reassess the design of the coastal road to ensure equitable access to the city’s prime seafront areas.
The court’s intervention comes as construction of the Coastal Road project, a key infrastructure initiative spanning 6.7 kilometres from Priyadarshini Park on Napean Sea Road to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, nears completion. In August 2023, the BMC reported that approximately 80% of the project work was finished. Despite the near-completion status, the High Court’s focus has shifted to the future use of the reclaimed land, specifically the open spaces that have emerged as part of the project.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, presiding over the case, acknowledged that while the Coastal Road’s construction is effectively finalised, concerns remain regarding the future use of the reclaimed open spaces. The petition raised fears that these areas might be repurposed for other uses, potentially leading to a loss of valuable green spaces. The judges noted that changes to the alignment or design of the road at this stage would not be feasible or in the public interest. However, they recognised the merit in addressing the concerns about the reclaimed land’s future use. They have thus directed that Abraham’s representation regarding the better utilisation of these spaces be formally submitted to the municipal commissioner.
The BMC is required to review this representation and take appropriate action as per legal provisions. This case highlights ongoing concerns about the integration of urban infrastructure projects with environmental and community considerations. The High Court’s directive underscores the importance of ensuring that reclaimed land serves the public interest and contributes positively to the city’s open space needs, even as major infrastructure projects advance towards completion.
