Introduction:

The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is underway and will transform the landscape of this city.  Planned for a ridership of 100,000 vehicles per day, it promises ease for commuters. However, in its current form, it isolates the city from its own coastline. Mumbai, a city of over 21 million people, already ranks among the lowest for open space per capita globally, with only 1.1 square meters per person. Our vibrant metropolis deserves the best possible future, one where everyone can enjoy the beauty of our coastline. 

Right now, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make a lasting change for the better. Let's seize this moment.

The Numbers Don't Add Up:
Currently, the BMC is investing a staggering 14,000 crores in the Coastal Road project. This project initially promised to reclaim 111 hectares of land, with just 20 hectares allocated for the road itself. The remaining 91 hectares were meant to be our gift - open spaces for all. 

Regrettably, the current plan shackles these “open spaces” between roads, rendering them fragmented, inaccessible, and underutilized. The slender waterfront Promenade, as it stands, will remain almost entirely out of reach for the ordinary citizen.

Our Vision:
Let it be clear: we’re not against progress; we're for it. 
We support the Coastal Road project but believe that with a few thoughtful design changes, we can make it even better. Instead of constructing parking structures in what should be open spaces, why not make the road itself more efficient and ensure the open spaces are more accessible? This is readily achievable through minor design modifications - we are referring specifically to the land-filled roads, not interchanges, arms, tunnels, etc., most of which is already complete - that promise substantial and enduring benefits for all.
We envision a world-class waterfront instead of a potential real estate endeavour.

A Vision for the City's Waterfront (Video)

Mumbai May Not Have to Lose Access to Its Seafront

The Potential:
Imagine a vibrant, continuous, expansive, and universally accessible 120-meter-wide waterfront that stretches for 6.7 kilometres from PDP Nepean Sea Road to Worli. This could be a world-class attraction, enjoyed by every Mumbaikar, young and old, rich, and poor, able-bodied and disabled. It could be a place for families to connect, for friends to gather, and for individuals to find solace in the bustling city.

Climate Resilience:
In an era where climate change poses real threats to our coastal city, the Coastal Road could be more than just a transportation project. It could incorporate innovative solutions for coastal protection and tidal resilience, ensuring Mumbai's safety for generations to come.

Questioning the Status Quo:
We challenge the BMC's current plans because we see a brighter future for Mumbai. We question the need for pedestrian underpasses that could deter people from enjoying the open spaces. We ask why we should settle for anything less than the full potential of this project.

Time for a Change:
The next crucial hearing on this matter is scheduled for 27 September, and we need your support. Sign this petition to tell the BMC that you stand with us in demanding a Coastal Road that truly benefits all of Mumbai.

Conclusion:
Let's unite to optimize Mumbai's Coastal Road project. Together, we can ensure a more vibrant, accessible, and climate-resilient future for our city. 

It's not about opposing the project; it's about shaping it to benefit every resident of Mumbai. We need progress and development that benefits the city's well-being!

Sign the petition today for a better Mumbai!

Alan Abraham 
Bombay Greenway | Mumbai | 21 September 2023

Advocating for a Better City through Design.
Let's preserve Mumbai's heritage and pave the way for a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive city. Join us in preserving Mumbai's green heritage.

#OptimizeCoastalRoad #MumbaiForAll #OpenSpacesForAll 
#ClimateResilience #SustainableMumbai 

Links to related articles:

A Vision for the City's Waterfront (Video)

Mumbai May Not Have to Lose Access to Its Seafront

Plea seeks design change of coastal road south

Plea in Bombay High Court seeks seafront space of upcoming Coastal Roads for Public 

120 architect firms seek design change in coastal road project

Planners did not plan !

Sea Change On Mumbai's Waterfront

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