Court Clears Commercial Use of Bandra Reclaimed Land
Real Estate

Court Clears Commercial Use of Bandra Reclaimed Land

The Bombay High Court has dismissed two public interest litigations (PILs) opposing the commercial development of 24 acres of reclaimed land in Bandra by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The land, originally allocated for the Bandra–Worli Sea Link project, is now slated for commercial use in partnership with Adani Properties.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne ruled that the environmental restrictions imposed under the 1999 and 2000 clearances—prohibiting residential or commercial use of reclaimed land—no longer apply, as the land currently lies outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) under the revised 2019 framework.
The court clarified that the conditions tied to the earlier CRZ regime were not perpetual and ceased to apply once the 2019 Coastal Zone Management Plan reclassified the area. It observed that doctrines such as public trust and non-regression could not supersede explicit statutory changes or updated clearances, including the latest approval granted in 2025 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
The PILs were filed by activist Zoru Bhathena and the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers Organization (BRAVO), who argued that the land was reclaimed on the strict condition that it would remain open space for public use and never be commercially exploited. They cited the April 2000 MoEF clearance, particularly Condition (viii), which explicitly prohibited any residential or commercial construction on the 27-hectare reclaimed stretch.
However, the court found that these conditions were enforceable only under the CRZ notifications effective at the time. With the current CRZ rules excluding the land in question from their purview, the restrictions were deemed inapplicable. Thus, there is no legal bar preventing MSRDC from moving forward with its commercial development plans.
In response to the verdict, Bhathena expressed disappointment, stating that Mumbai—where open space availability stands at just 1.1 square metres per person, compared to the recommended 10 square metres—is at risk of losing yet another vital green area. He warned that the judgement sets a precedent that could affect other reclaimed spaces, including the Coastal Road project.
Bhathena confirmed plans to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, criticising what he described as the government’s broader intention to commercially exploit reclaimed land under the guise of infrastructure development.

The Bombay High Court has dismissed two public interest litigations (PILs) opposing the commercial development of 24 acres of reclaimed land in Bandra by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The land, originally allocated for the Bandra–Worli Sea Link project, is now slated for commercial use in partnership with Adani Properties.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne ruled that the environmental restrictions imposed under the 1999 and 2000 clearances—prohibiting residential or commercial use of reclaimed land—no longer apply, as the land currently lies outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) under the revised 2019 framework.The court clarified that the conditions tied to the earlier CRZ regime were not perpetual and ceased to apply once the 2019 Coastal Zone Management Plan reclassified the area. It observed that doctrines such as public trust and non-regression could not supersede explicit statutory changes or updated clearances, including the latest approval granted in 2025 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).The PILs were filed by activist Zoru Bhathena and the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers Organization (BRAVO), who argued that the land was reclaimed on the strict condition that it would remain open space for public use and never be commercially exploited. They cited the April 2000 MoEF clearance, particularly Condition (viii), which explicitly prohibited any residential or commercial construction on the 27-hectare reclaimed stretch.However, the court found that these conditions were enforceable only under the CRZ notifications effective at the time. With the current CRZ rules excluding the land in question from their purview, the restrictions were deemed inapplicable. Thus, there is no legal bar preventing MSRDC from moving forward with its commercial development plans.In response to the verdict, Bhathena expressed disappointment, stating that Mumbai—where open space availability stands at just 1.1 square metres per person, compared to the recommended 10 square metres—is at risk of losing yet another vital green area. He warned that the judgement sets a precedent that could affect other reclaimed spaces, including the Coastal Road project.Bhathena confirmed plans to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, criticising what he described as the government’s broader intention to commercially exploit reclaimed land under the guise of infrastructure development.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

RVNL wins North Eastern Railway bridge project worth Rs 1.66 billion

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) announced on 27 October that it has emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for a significant infrastructure project awarded by the North Eastern Railway, as part of its routine business operations. The project involves the construction of the substructure for Important Bridge No. 50, which will comprise 14 spans of 61 metres each. It will feature a Double D-type well foundation designed for a double line and adhere to the RDSO 25T axle loading standard. The bridge will be built over the river Gandak, situated between Paniyahwa and Valmikinagar stations, as part of ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Northern Railways plans direct Kashmir link with India

Following the successful launch of twin Vande Bharat trains on the Srinagar–Katra route, marking the completion of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla rail link in June, Northern Railways is now working towards providing direct rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country, an official has confirmed. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal, said that efforts are underway to resolve operational and security challenges to achieve this milestone for Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to PTI after introducing a two-minute stoppage for the semi-high-sp..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Railway Board approves new station at Nedumbassery airport

The Railway Board has approved the construction of a new railway station at Nedumbassery, fulfilling a long-standing demand from air passengers using the Cochin International Airport. Union Minister George Kurian’s office announced on Wednesday that the decision marks a major step towards enhancing rail connectivity to the airport, which serves as one of southern India’s key transport hubs. According to the statement, Kurian had earlier met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who assured him that the project would be expedited. The plan gathered momentum following Vaishnaw’s visit last ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?