Mumbai’s long-awaited coastal road project is set to transform the city’s seafront with the creation of 130 acres of public gardens, promenades, and cycling tracks on reclaimed land between Priyadarshini Park and Worli. Officials from the civic body confirmed that Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has taken responsibility for designing, developing, and maintaining these open spaces for 30 years, extendable by another 30. The vision is to create what is being described as “green lungs” for the city.
The plans include landscaped gardens, tree-lined walkways, dedicated cycling paths, and open plazas. Civic planners believe this will become one of the largest urban green projects in Mumbai in decades, offering residents spaces to walk, cycle, and enjoy views of the Arabian Sea. For thousands of citizens who signed petitions demanding a coastal forest along the stretch, the announcement has come as reassurance that the reclaimed land will not turn into another zone of concrete construction. According to officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, RIL was the only company willing to take up the project in its entirety. The civic body’s decision was influenced by the company’s experience in large-scale developments and the cost savings involved. Having already invested over ₹13,000 crore in the coastal road project, officials estimated that transferring maintenance responsibilities to the private developer would save the city an additional ₹400 crore.
While design details are yet to be finalised, officials noted that the gardens will be planned to balance environmental sustainability with urban convenience. They emphasised that the new coastal ribbon of green will serve both as a recreational escape for residents and as a natural buffer against the city’s worsening air pollution and climate vulnerabilities. Sustainability experts say the project could redefine the way Mumbai engages with its waterfront. By reclaiming land not for high-rises but for green public use, the city may finally have a chance to align development with ecological priorities. “This is an opportunity to create a model of climate-resilient open spaces in one of the world’s densest cities,” said an urban planner involved in environmental policy.
In parallel, Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of RIL, is also constructing a 2,000-bed medical city in Mumbai. Described as a hub of healthcare innovation, the facility will feature advanced diagnostic systems, AI-enabled technologies, and specialist doctors from across India and abroad. The project, officials say, aims to provide global-standard healthcare while strengthening Mumbai’s position as a hub for medical innovation. The combination of a state-of-the-art medical hub and a new coastal green corridor signals an effort to integrate infrastructure, health, and environment into Mumbai’s future growth. Yet, civic observers caution that the success of such projects will depend on transparent planning, long-term maintenance, and genuine public access to these open spaces.
If executed as promised, the coastal road gardens could become a legacy project for the city—an emblem of how economic power, civic responsibility, and environmental balance can intersect to create sustainable, equitable, and eco-friendly urban living.
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