Reliance Industries has emerged as the front-runner for developing and maintaining 70 hectares of open public space along the recently inaugurated Mumbai Coastal Road.
The project, estimated at a minimum investment of ₹400 crore, will be undertaken under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework, with zero commercial returns expected in exchange.After a competitive screening of expressions of interest (EOI) from five major corporate houses—Jindal, Raymond, Vedanta, Torres, and Reliance Industries—the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has recommended Reliance, citing its compliance with all regulatory criteria and its commitment to fully fund the initiative as a non-revenue project. Official confirmation awaits the municipal commissioner’s return from leave, but planning officials indicate the decision is all but final.
This large-scale greening effort aligns with Mumbai’s evolving vision of becoming an environmentally sustainable, citizen-first city. The Coastal Road, stretching 10.58 km from Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, is now fully operational. A 7.5 km public promenade modelled on Marine Drive is also underway, while Tata Sons has taken up beautification of a five-hectare median along the route.Now, with Reliance Industries poised to step in, the spotlight shifts to the transformative potential of the proposed development. The 70-hectare corridor is envisioned not just as an aesthetic upliftment, but as an inclusive public utility. It will feature extensive landscaping, Miyawaki urban forests, butterfly gardens, yoga pathways, musical fountains, open-air gyms, amphitheatres, senior citizens’ zones, and children’s play parks. Furthermore, cycling and jogging tracks will knit the stretch into a seamless, active urban ecosystem.
This model of public-private partnership marks a crucial pivot in urban policy thinking—one where CSR isn’t just compliance, but a vehicle for city-shaping with lasting social, environmental, and health dividends. While critics have in the past raised concerns about handing over public assets to private players, civic officials have clarified that Reliance will not seek ownership, revenue rights, or branding privileges, but will act purely in a stewardship role.The development is seen as a catalyst in the city’s broader effort to reduce carbon footprints, increase per capita green cover, and prioritise pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. In a city frequently criticised for its diminishing open spaces, this initiative may well be a template for sustainable, equitable, and gender-neutral urban renewal.
The final administrative nod is expected in the coming week. Once cleared, Reliance Industries will submit detailed architectural and landscaping plans to the BMC. Execution timelines will follow thereafter, with phased implementation likely to begin before the end of the year.For Mumbai’s 20-million-strong population, many of whom live with limited access to open green space, this coastal project offers not just a respite but a hopeful blueprint for a more liveable, breathable, and inclusive metropolis. If executed as envisioned, the city’s coastline may soon be reborn as its green lung.
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