1 week ago
Mumbai BMC Approves ₹702.44-Crore Underground Pedestrian Link Despite Opposition
Mumbai’s civic body approved money for a new underground walking passage.
It will connect a metro station near the Science Centre and Mahalaxmi Racecourse to the Coastal Road Garden and promenade.
The passage will be about 1.5 kilometres long and have six entrances and exits.
People will be able to walk through it without disturbing the racetrack or planned garden.
Supporters say it will make it easier to reach public places, events and tourist attractions.
Opposition corporators did not reject the passage itself.
They questioned why the BMC should pay the full cost when the metro corporation is carrying out the work.
They also said the BMC already has large unpaid and future project expenses.
The proposal passed because the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance had enough votes.
The BMC approved a ₹702.44-crore underground pedestrian passage linking the Science Centre Metro Station area with the Coastal Road Garden and promenade.
Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS corporators questioned why the BMC should fund a project being executed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited.
The 1.518-kilometre passage will run beneath Mahalaxmi Racecourse land and include six entry and exit points.
The link will be 7.5 metres wide and connect public transport with recreational, religious and tourism destinations.
BJP-led Mahayuti corporators supported the proposal, which passed by majority vote despite opposition and concerns over the BMC’s finances.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, and corporators from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS.
- What
- Approval of a ₹702.44-crore, 1.518-kilometre underground pedestrian passage connecting the Science Centre Metro Station area with the Coastal Road Garden and promenade.
- Where
- Mumbai, between the Science Centre Metro Station area, Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road Garden and promenade.
- When
- The proposal was approved on August 20, 2026, after being considered by the Standing Committee.
- Why
- To improve pedestrian access between public transport, recreational spaces, events, religious sites and tourism destinations.
Opposition corporators
Mahayuti-backed majority
Who should pay
Opposition corporators
Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS corporators argued that the cash-strapped BMC should not bear the project’s full cost because Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited is executing it.
Mahayuti-backed majority
BJP-led Mahayuti corporators backed the proposal, which assigns the financial burden to the BMC and was approved by majority vote.
BMC finances
Opposition corporators
Opposition members cited ₹8,000 crore owed to contractors, ₹28,000 crore needed for ongoing projects over eight years and an unreleased ₹10,000-crore state grant as reasons to reconsider the spending.
Mahayuti-backed majority
The proposal was approved despite those financial objections; the article does not report a separate response from the supporting corporators on the cited liabilities.
Project approval process
Opposition corporators
Congress corporator Ajanta Yadav questioned why work had reportedly begun before the proposal reached the committee.
Mahayuti-backed majority
The Mahayuti majority proceeded with the vote and approved the proposal despite the procedural objection.
Key facts
- Project cost
- ₹702.44 crore
- Passage length
- 1.518 kilometres
- Pedestrian width
- 7.5 metres
- Access points
- Six entry and exit points
- Connected metro area
- Science Centre Metro Station on the Aqua Metro Line
- Main destinations
- Coastal Road Garden, Worli Promenade, Mahalaxmi Racecourse and nearby attractions
- Funding mechanism
- The proposal cites TOD Clause 33(23) of DCPR 2024, with costs to be recovered through a Transit-Oriented Development premium.
Quotes
Yashwant Killedar
MNS group leader
“We are not opposing the project, but why should the BMC spend the money?”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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