Mumbai Residents File Formal Complaint Against Carter Road Promenade Commercialization
Mumbai: In a significant development concerning urban planning and environmental protection, at least 70 residents, predominantly from the Bandra West locality, have submitted a formal letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The communication, dated February 23, strongly objects to what the residents have characterized as the "illegal commercialisation" of the iconic Carter Road Promenade.
Violation of Designated Green Open Spaces and Coastal Regulations
The residents' letter meticulously highlights the legal protections afforded to the area. It points out that both the Carter Road Promenade and the nearby Bandstand Promenade are officially designated as Green Open Spaces under Mumbai's Development Plan 2034. Furthermore, these waterfront promenades fall within the sensitive Coastal Regulation Zone and are specifically categorized as CRZ-III, which is a No Development Zone according to the same development plan.
Despite these stringent protections, the residents allege a pattern of commercial exploitation that directly contravenes established planning and environmental norms. "We are shocked to see that commercial activities are being permitted in areas that are legally protected as open spaces," the letter emphatically stated, capturing the community's dismay.
Specific Grievances: Hoardings and Restricted Public Access
The complaint details specific instances of alleged violations. A primary concern raised is the erection of commercial hoardings along the Carter Road Promenade. Residents argue that these installations not only breach CRZ regulations but also fundamentally compromise the public character of one of Mumbai's most heavily utilized and cherished waterfront open spaces.
Beyond advertising structures, the letter also reports that sections of the Promenade have been cordoned off for private events. This action, according to the residents, unjustly prevents public access to these spaces, which are meant for communal enjoyment and recreation, thereby undermining their very purpose.
Political Intervention and Call for Review
The mounting complaints from Bandra West residents have not gone unnoticed by local authorities. Last week, in response to the growing outcry over the alleged commercialization, local BJP MLA and Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar took decisive action. Minister Shelar ordered an immediate review of all permissions granted for the commercial installation of LED hoardings on the promenade. Additionally, he has sought comprehensive clarity regarding the maintenance framework governing the Carter Road Promenade, signaling a potential administrative reckoning for the issue.
This case underscores the ongoing tension between urban commercial interests and the preservation of legally protected public and environmental spaces in a bustling metropolis like Mumbai. The residents' collective action represents a firm stand for upholding development plans and coastal zone regulations designed to safeguard the city's ecological and social heritage.
