Tree-lined walking paths, sprawling green lawns and an underground sports complex could soon take shape at one of Mumbai’s most recognisable open spaces.
This is the vision Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has laid out for a proposed Central Park at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, pitched as one of the largest urban green projects announced for the city in recent years.
Unveiled on Monday, December 15, the plan seeks to integrate a portion of the historic Mahalaxmi Racecourse with land reclaimed through the city’s Coastal Road project to create a single, expansive public park.
According to Shinde, the Central Park will span around 295 acres, of which about 125 acres will come from the racecourse and the remaining 170 acres from Coastal Road land.
No above-ground construction
The proposed park is being pitched as a predominantly green, open-to-all public space. Officials said there will be no above-ground construction barring walking and jogging tracks to preserve open sightlines and ensure green cover in a densely built part of the city.
One of the centrepieces of the plan is a 10-lakh square foot underground sports complex, which is expected to house international-standard facilities along with spaces for traditional Indian sports such as kho-kho and kabaddi.
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The government said that the project, designed by architect Hafeez Contractor, takes into account the heritage character of the racecourse and would also allows racing activities to continue.
The proposal also includes new access infrastructure. A 1,200-metre tunnel connecting the park to the Science Centre Metro station and the Coastal Road has already been tendered.
Parking facilities are planned along this route to manage visitor inflow, while officials have reiterated that most built infrastructure would remain underground to retain the park’s green character.
The announcement, however, came just hours before the State Election Commission announced the schedule for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, triggering the model code of conduct, a timing that has drawn attention.
Authorities have said the Mahalaxmi Racecourse will continue to operate, with its core structures and racing functions remaining intact even as part of the land is opened up for public use. Detailed timelines for construction and execution of the project have not yet been announced.
The land now earmarked for the Central Park has been at the centre of a long-running dispute. Earlier this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took control of around 120 acres of the racecourse land, ending years of uncertainty following the expiry of the lease held by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) in 2013.
Under the agreement, out of the 211-acre Racecourse plot, 120 acres are now under BMC’s control, while the Royal Western India Turf Club retains the remaining land for racing and allied activities.
The takeover and redevelopment plans had triggered protests from residents, walkers and heritage activists. Opponents argued that the racecourse functions as a vital green lung for south Mumbai and is a Grade II-B heritage site, frequented daily by citizens for recreation. Concerns were also raised over the possibility of commercial construction and loss of tree cover.
Civic and state officials have consistently maintained that the site will be developed as a public garden with minimal surface construction, and that the heritage and environmental value of the racecourse will be preserved as part of the Central Park project.
