Mahalaxmi Racecourse revamp: Architect Hafeez Contractor plans 700 acres of contiguous green space | Mumbai News

Mumbai: While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to convert the 120-acre plot allotted to it near the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a ‘central park’, the ultimate vision of noted architect Hafeez Contractor is to integrate it with other open spaces to create an additional 700 hectares of contiguous green space for the city.

The BMC had earlier this year hired a contractor to conceptualise the racecourse’s renovation, which aims to add more greenery to a city notorious for its lack of open spaces and amenities for citizens, including cycling and jogging tracks and walking paths.

“We did a detailed study after former mayor Iqbal Singh Chahal told us that the racecourse was a large area which was not actively used by everyone,” said Contractor. “So he wanted to reserve a part of the space for the common man. We initially suggested raising the racecourse but they were not happy with that. Finally, it was decided that 120 acres would be made public,” he added.

The first objective of the ambitious project is to connect the 120-acre Racecourse land to the Mumbai Coastal Road via Haji Ali through an underpass. “At present, there is a missing link at Haji Ali dargah opposite Hinduja office. And due to fishermen, it could not be connected. But we will not disturb the fishermen; instead, we propose to have a cycling or jogging track 20 feet higher. So if someone is jogging from Worli, he/she can directly go to Haji Ali and then reach the Racecourse via the underpass,” Contractor said.

It took Contractor and his team three months of consistent research to come up with the design, which included integrating other green spaces from Worli to Colaba. This includes the construction of two spiral walkways in south Mumbai. One would connect Priyadarshini Park and Kamala Nehru Park on Malabar Hill, while the other would connect Kamala Nehru Park to Girgaon Chowpatty. The ramps would be integrated with Marine Drive up to Nariman Point to get a contiguous 700-800 acres of linear green space in the city, Contractor said.

The 74-year-old, the architect behind three of India’s tallest buildings, the 42 in Kolkata and The Imperial Twin Towers in Mumbai, worked pro bono on the Racecourse project. “I was born in Mumbai and I want my city to be greener and better. I want to make Mumbai better and it is my duty to do so. Unless everyone makes an effort to make it better, it will not happen.”

The contractor presented his proposal to former BMC chief Chahal earlier this year, before holding three meetings with the state secretary and members of Mahalaxmi Racecourse. On June 26, the Maharashtra cabinet approved the proposal to extend the lease of 91 acres of the 211-acre racecourse. The rest of the 120 acres would go to the BMC for public use. The decision ensures the heritage status of the racecourse is preserved, with strict bans on all construction activities.

Under the approved plan, the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) will retain the 91-hectare site, including the racecourse and stables, under a renewed lease agreement valid from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2053.