Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to open the city’s newest public promenade along the Mumbai Coastal Road by mid-June.
The 7.5-kilometre stretch, running between Priyadarshini Park at Breach Candy and the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, promises to be a green haven for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists.The promenade, 20 metres wide and completely sea-facing, is part of a broader vision to integrate sustainable public infrastructure into the city’s rapidly evolving transport and real estate landscape. Designed by international consultancy AECOM, the space is being developed with a strong focus on climate resilience, universal accessibility, and environmental aesthetics.
The BMC has confirmed that the entire promenade will be opened to the public by June 15. A civic official stated that 20 pedestrian underpasses—located every 400 metres—will allow seamless access from both sides of the coastal road, ensuring the promenade is not just visually appealing but also functional and equitable in design.Out of the total 17 hectares earmarked for the project, around 12 hectares are being directly developed by the BMC, while the remaining five hectares form a central median currently under beautification by Tata Sons. Notably, nearly 70 percent of the promenade will be dedicated to landscaped green zones, while the remainder will feature paved pathways, seating areas, bicycle lanes, and community-friendly amenities. This balance of hard and soft infrastructure has been carefully curated to ensure sustainable use of the coastal edge without compromising public access.
The project is also part of a larger plan to reclaim and redesign nearly 70 hectares of open space along Mumbai’s western waterfront, one of the most congested urban coastlines in India. To ensure the long-term maintenance and aesthetic upkeep of these public spaces, the BMC had floated an Expression of Interest for corporate partnerships under the CSR framework. After evaluating submissions from five major private entities—Reliance Industries, Jindal, Vedanta, Raymond, and Torres—Reliance Industries has been recommended for the project for fulfilling all requirements without seeking financial returns.
Once the administrative greenlight is issued, Reliance Industries will submit a comprehensive master plan covering a range of eco-urban features. These include Miyawaki forests, butterfly gardens, musical fountains, public plazas, open-air gyms, yoga tracks, senior citizen parks, and children’s play zones. The integration of nature and wellness-focused design is expected to make the promenade a model for coastal development projects in other Indian cities.
The Mumbai Coastal Road—already partially operational between Marine Drive’s Princess Street Flyover and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link—is a cornerstone of the city’s new mobility strategy. However, the promenade adds a softer, people-centric dimension to this mega infrastructure project, reflecting a shift towards citizen-oriented urban planning.
While challenges such as environmental approvals, marine biodiversity concerns, and cost escalations continue to shadow large infrastructure projects in Mumbai, the promenade stands out as a rare instance where transport engineering meets community wellbeing. For Mumbaikars, who have long yearned for safe, green, and accessible open spaces, this development is more than just a stretch of road—it’s a much-needed breath of fresh sea air.
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