120 architectural firms want to change design of coastal road project

To the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, as many as 120 urban architectural firms from Mumbai have proposed changes to the current design of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) (BMC). However, civic officials have stated that implementing the changes will be impossible because the project is only 65% complete. A meeting between architects and members of the state administration was recently held at the Vidhan Bhavan. Rahul Narwekar, Assembly Speaker and Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Commissioner, as well as senior BMC officials involved with the project, were also present. Members of the Mumbai Architects Collective (MAC), a group of 120 architectural firms in the city, suggested tweaking certain parameters in the project during a presentation at the meeting. The MAC has proposed realigning the road and changing its current alignment to coincide with the proposed garden space. According to the BMC alignment, the road will be built on the western side, facing the Arabian Sea, while a promenade-cum-garden will be built on the eastern side, facing the city. However, the MAC has proposed that the garden be located on the seafront and that the road be directed inwards, towards the mainland. The proposed design will make everything more accessible and useful, from the proposed bus transit to open spaces. The current design completely disconnects the city from the sea, and while it meets the city's basic transportation needs, it destroys the city's urban fabric and potentially amazing waterfront, stated the MAC in a letter sent to Bhide and Narwekar following the presentation. The architects are suggesting changes in design so that citizens can make full use of the green spaces that will come up in the Coastal Road, said Harshita Narwekar, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Corporator from south Mumbai who facilitated the meeting and was also present during the presentation. Also, once the project is in the construction stage, long-term planning is required so that the administration does not have to change the overall design once it is completed, Narwekar said. However, civic officials maintained that because the project was nearing completion, no new design could be implemented at this time. The Supreme Court has ordered that the proposed design that was presented to the court be followed, and the BMC will have to approach the court again for any new changes in the design. Also read: Ulhasnagar issues tenders worth Rs 1.50 bn for road workSmartworld Developers raises Rs 2.50 bn from Motilal Oswal