To

1.  Shri Narendra Modi - The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

2.     Shri Amit Shah - The Hon’ble Home Minister of India

3.     Shri Eknath Shinde - The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra 

4.     Shri Devendra Fadnavis - The Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra 

5.     Shri Ajit Pawar - The Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra 

The Mahalaxmi Racecourse, a Grade II-B heritage site, has been in existence for over 140 years. It comprises of an open space of around 230 acres of natural terrain i.e. mud and grass. The only structures within this open space are stables for horses, stands to view the races and some offices of RWITC, all of which are ancillary and necessary for horse racing.  The racecourse is not only an open space but is also a green space with hundreds of old trees. It is frequented by thousands of citizens daily for the purpose of walking, jogging, yoga, football, cricket, horse riding or to just relax and sit on the grass. Children and dogs are brought here to play and enjoy the fresh air and greenery. IT IS THE MAIN, IF NOT ONLY, GREEN LUNG OF MUMBAI AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS OF MUMBAI CANNOT BE UNDERMINED. IT IS THE LIFELINE OF THE RESIDENTS OF MUMBAI.

The latest proposal of the State Government/ MCGM for the racecourse envisages the following:

1. To develop a theme park in the racecourse. Have no doubt that the theme park will include hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and other places of entertainment. This will mean restricted access to citizens into the racecourse. We will no longer be able to enjoy the greenery and fresh air, as we are doing today. 

2. To construct multi-storied residential and commercial buildings and complexes by following the slum rehabilitation route. The State Government/ MCGM have already stated that they will rehabilitate the slum dwellers of the racecourse somewhere outside the racecourse, but what they don’t say is that in lieu of rehabilitation of slum dwellers, developers will be entitled to construct multi-storied residential and commercial complexes in situ i.e. inside the racecourse.

3. To give a donation of nearly Rs. 100 Crores to RWITC to build an exclusive modern clubhouse and stables for itself. Public funds are being used to finance a private club.  

4. Building an exclusive modern clubhouse means that a large part of the racecourse will become a full-fledged club only for the members of RWITC and will result in further deprivation of open space to the public.

5. To achieve the above the present reservation of the race course as a Recreation Ground (RG) to be changed.

6. The racecourse to be divided between the State Government/MCGM and RWITC and they and their lessees/licensees to control access to the race course.

7. Although the plan designates certain areas as public garden/theme park, this is where the hotels, restaurants, towers, residential and commercial complexes will be built. 

8. There will be large scale concretisation of the ground which is presently permeable consisting of just mud or grass.

There is just one consequence of this proposal– THE DEPRIVATION OF THE ONLY OPEN SPACE AND GREEN LUNG IN MUMBAI TO US MUMBAIKARS. 

Is this not clearly environment unfriendly? Is this not the destruction of the only open space and green lung in the city of Mumbai? Is this not a deprivation of the citizen’s right to breathe fresh air and to enjoy an open recreational space? Will this not change the city forever?

The answer to all the above questions is an emphatic YES. We do not need any of this in the racecourse. The racecourse must be left as it is and efforts should be taken to make it even more open than it is now. The proposal of the State Government/ MCGM is clearly against the interest of Mumbai and public interest.

THE PRESERVATION OF THE RACE COURSE AS IT IS, IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE GIVEN THAT THE AQI IN MUMBAI EXCEEDS 320 AND THE MUMBAI AIR IS ALREADY CAUSING RESPIRATORY ISSUES IN RESIDENTS! 

We citizens therefore humbly urge you, the highest functionaries and custodians of the country and the state, to urgently intervene and put a stop to the proposal/plan and save the city of Mumbai and its residents.