600-700 Mumbaikars protest proposed Powai projects, raise traffic and environmental concerns

Hundreds of people take part in the protest on Sunday morning. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Around 600 to 700 Mumbaikars took to the streets of Powai on Sunday to protest against a series of proposed development projects in the area, raising concerns over inadequate civic infrastructure, traffic congestion, and the potential environmental impact.

The billion-dollar project

One of the major projects facing opposition is the proposed Global Capability Centre (GCC) by Brookfield Asset Management, which plans to invest $1 billion to build what is being described as Asia's largest GCC in Powai. Residents have been opposing several projects proposed in the Powai and Chandivli areas, arguing that the existing infrastructure is already struggling. Residents fear the project, which would likely generate thousands of jobs, will add more vehicle trips, potentially pushing the Powai-Chandivli corridor into severe congestion.

Residents from neighbouring Chandivli also joined the protest

‘No more development'

Pamala Cheema, chairperson, Powai ALM, said "The Powai-Chandivli corridor is already overwhelmed. Any more development or the GCC will only make the area worse. Currently we have multiple schools and hospitals, and accessing those becomes a task, and if the current plans fructify, that will just make things worse for us who are living here. The Powai ALM supports the protest which happened today completely."

Environmental concerns

Environmentalists have raised concerns about the pressure that a large GCC could place on the area's water resources and civic infra. BN Kumar, director, NatConnect Foundation, said, "At a time when Mumbai's water resources and civic infra are already under enormous pressure, we cannot add another massive water and infra burden to Powai." Kumar said the group was not opposed to the investment or employment opportunities. "Jobs and investment cannot become a licence to overload a city beyond its carrying capacity," he said.

Chandivli joins protest

Residents of neighbouring Chandivli joined the protest, citing years of inadequate civic planning despite rapid real estate growth. Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of the Chandivli Citizens Welfare Association, said, "Mumbai is suffering because civic planning has completely failed to keep up with real estate growth. For the past 15 to 20 years, the BMC has approved new high-rises and commercial hubs in Powai and Chandivli while ignoring vital road infrastructure." "Missing connections between Chandivli and Powai, as well as Sakinaka to JVLR, continue to paralyse traffic. The BMC needs to immediately freeze building permissions for new projects until it finishes the basic roads required to support the existing population," Makkar said.

Company response

Brookfield Properties, or BGRE, said it was committed to balancing commercial development with sustainable urban growth. "At BGRE, we believe commercial growth must align with sustainable urban development. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to Powai's well-being through green spaces, sustainable mobility and community engagement," a company spokesperson said. "We respect the concerns raised by residents and will continue to work with the community and all stakeholders to address them constructively," the spokesperson added.