Mumbai: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to investigate a complaint concerning the construction of parking lots along the Mumbai Coastal Road.
The complaint, filed by the Watchdog Foundation, raises objections to parking facilities located at Worli, Haji Ali, and Breach Candy. These locations fall within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) raising concerns about compliance with environmental regulations.
Watchdog Foundation alleges violation of environmental clearance conditions
The underground parking facilities being constructed along the Coastal Road at Bhulabhai Desai Marg (south side of Tata Garden) with a capacity of 250 vehicles; near Lotus Jetty at Haji Ali for 1,200 vehicles; and at Worli Dairy and Worli Seaface (opposite Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk), each accommodating 200 vehicles.
These are clear violations of a condition in the environmental clearance granted by the MoEF&CC, according to Godfrey Pimenta, founder of the WatchDog Foundation. In his letter to the ministry on July 20, Pimenta stated that the clearance explicitly prohibits any residential or commercial use of the 90 hectares of reclaimed land, and that constructing parking lots in open spaces amounts to commercial activity, breaching this condition.
In his letter to the MCZMA on Wednesday, Tuntun Kumar Singh, Section Officer of the MoEF&CC, directed an examination of the nature and extent of the alleged grievance and instructed that a response be submitted to both the applicant and the Ministry. The letter further states that appropriate legal action should be taken if the grievance is found to be valid.
Civic body cites Supreme Court nod, claims facility is for maintenance only
However, a senior civic official stated, “The construction of the underground parking on coastal road is being carried out with permission from the Supreme Court. Though commercial activity is not allowed we have been authorised to operate it as a pay-and-park facility limited to maintenance purposes."
Worli parking facilities ready, Haji Ali project expanded to 4 levels
The BMC recently invited tenders for the operation, maintenance, and management of the underground parking facility at BinduMadhav Thackeray Chowk, part of the Coastal Road Project. Of the four proposed facilities, two in Worli (200-vehicle capacity each) are complete and expected to open by the end of July.
“The Worli facility will ease congestion for those parking along Worli Sea Face and benefit visitors to the soon-to-open coastal promenade,” an official said.
The BMC has also revised plans for the Haji Ali parking facility, expanding it from two to four levels. Originally designed for 1,200 cars, the new plan accommodates 1,069 cars and 70 buses. A tender will be floated soon, with construction expected to take two years once awarded.
