NY-style park in Mumbai gains momentum as firm chosen for survey

The civic body’s ambitious plan to develop a park at Cuffe Parade, modelled on the lines of the Central Park in New York City, is finally on track.

The Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) tabled a proposal in the standing committee meeting, later this week, to appoint Tata Consulting Engineers as a consultant to prepare a feasibility report of the project at ₹3.87 crore.

The BMC, in its Development Plan 2034, has planned to develop a 300-acre park by reclaiming 121 hectares of sea at Back Bay Reclamation. Currently, the BMC has hired Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to conduct an oceanographic survey to understand impact of the park on the marine ecosystem, and climate along city’s coastline.

It has also hired the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for terrestrial environment impact assessment – the effect of the project on traffic, air and noise pollution, residents’ lifestyles, and fisherfolk’s livelihood.

The consultant will take findings of the two surveys into account while drafting the report.

After objections from fisherfolk, the BMC has included a jetty and harbour area for fishing activities in its plan. It has also proposed to include a waterway.

The park will require permissions from various government agencies such as environment and pollution control board, Mumbai port trust, Maharashtra maritime board, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, Coast Guard among others.

The consultant will also assist BMC to get the permissions.