‘Let Breach Candy Breathe’: Locals raise concerns over Mumbai Coastal Road plans

Residents gather at Cymroza Art Gallery to state their concerns with the Coastal Road project. PICS/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

It was an action-caution meeting as Breach Candy residents met on Saturday (yesterday) morning at the Cymroza Art Gallery in the vicinity to share concerns and chart a future course of action with reference to part of the upcoming Coastal Road project. This part has gardens and other facilities planned alongside the Road from Priyadarshini Park (PDP) Nepean Sea Road to Worli.

The meet saw a healthy turnout, with the SoBo residents mainly concerned about how the area will be affected by the large influx of visitors and vehicles seeking to approach the planned Gardens through at least three entry points in the vicinity: one at Nepean Sea Road, another at Breach Candy itself and yet another at Mahalaxmi.

The community meeting on the livability of the neighbourhood saw several posters lining the venue citing salient points about the coming project.

One participant wore a T-shirt on which was written: ‘Let Breach Candy Breathe ', and a lady was carrying a poster saying ‘We want forests', which reflected the sentiment of the meet.

Rishad Karkaria, one of the speakers, said, "Trees, plants, greenery are part of the plan, but there are sports courts, recreation, attractions, Food & Beverage facilities too. The question is: do we have the infra to support these?"

It was a question that resonated, even as other questions about handling bright lights, music, crush of vehicles thanks to attractions and event spaces planned and the huge footfalls - "expect at least 1,00,000 visitors on peak days," hung heavy in the air.

Special guest activist Nayana Kathpalia urged attendees to "come together; there is strength in numbers," she explained, speaking from experience. "You have to fight for your space," she added.

Speaker Nandini Chabria drew cheers as she said, "This is public land, and it is very important to treat it as such. We all are stakeholders." While meetings with authorities are ongoing, there was a unanimous call for consulting with locals rather than having those in charge taking unilateral decisions.