Mumbai: The BMC has revised the original two-storey design for an underground parking facility at Haji Ali, upgrading it to a four-storey structure. This new design will not only accommodate four-wheelers but also provide parking for buses. The updated proposal, submitted by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to the project management consultants (PMC), is expected to commence construction by March 2025.
As part of an initiative to address parking issues in key locations along Mumbai's coastline, the BMC plans to develop three underground parking lots: near Haji Ali, near Amarsons Garden at Breach Candy, and at Worli Seaface along the coastal road promenade. These parking facilities will be built on land reclaimed for the coastal road project.
Originally approved in 2022, the two-storey design for Haji Ali was delayed due to legal issues. "With these hurdles now resolved, the project is poised to move forward, though the design was revised to include space for tourist buses, a necessity due to the proposed Central Park on the reclaimed coastal road and racecourse land," said a senior civic official.
The redesign aims to ease the parking crunch for buses at Rajani Patel Chowk in Haji Ali, which led to the revision of the original plan. The new parking facility will accommodate 1,235 vehicles, including 70 buses.
While the Haji Ali parking was initially expected to be operational by May 2025, the revised design pushes the completion date to 2026. The estimated cost for the construction of the facilities at Haji Ali, Amarsons Garden, and Worli Seaface is Rs 3,000 crore. However, due to the delays, this may result in a rise in costs and an extended timeline for the project.
