Mumbai architects call on BMC to safeguard open spaces from projects

27 Sep 2024 CW Team

The Mumbai Architects Collective, in a letter addressed to the BMC commissioner on September 24 and signed by 92 architects, planners, and designers, expressed their concern over a troubling trend of appropriating parks and open spaces for infrastructure projects, commercial use, and parking. They emphasized that such actions undermine the ecological, social, and public value of these areas.

In the letter, they conveyed their deep concerns regarding ongoing threats to key public spaces like the Hanging Gardens, the Racecourse, Aarey Forest, the salt pans, and the unfulfilled promises of open spaces along the Coastal Road. They urged the commissioner to build on the solidarity witnessed at Patwardhan Park and to make a lasting commitment that all open spaces in Mumbai would remain open and accessible to the public indefinitely and under public control. They asserted that safeguarding these spaces is crucial for the city's environmental, social, and economic future.

The letter noted that the open spaces along the Mumbai Coastal Road are yet to be developed, with work planned to begin once the road construction is complete. Over the past weekend, BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani joined residents at Bandra's Raosaheb Patwardhan Park to celebrate the decision to scrap plans for an underground parking lot beneath the garden's playground area.

Furthermore, the collective commended the recent efforts by citizens in preserving Patwardhan Park from being converted into a parking lot. They remarked that the solidarity demonstrated by citizens, political representatives, and the BMC in protecting this vital public resource was commendable, reflecting a similar victory at Pushpa Narsee Park in Juhu. They highlighted that these successes underscore the critical importance of safeguarding open spaces for public use.

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..