Bandra residents seek action to clear Carter Road promenade encroachments

The Carter Road promenade on April 21, 2025. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE

Bandra residents have sought the intervention of the Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to remove encroachments from the Carter Road promenade, enabling pedestrians and tourists to reclaim the stretch.

The residents wrote at least three letters to the MMB and BMC in February and March, requesting the removal of seafood stalls and a religious statue at the gazebo end of the stretch. The structure which housed the idol had been removed following complaints.

The idol

The latest letter, written on Sunday morning, referred to information received in response to an inquiry filed under the RTI Act and urged the MMB to remove a statue in the gazebo.

"Considering the sensitivities involved, it's best that this issue is resolved as soon as possible. The further it gets delayed, the further sentiments will get invested and attached to that place and dealing with religious fervour will become difficult," the letter states.

According to residents, the RTI reply revealed that no permissions had been given for the religious structure. In its previous letter, on March 7, residents thanked the authorities for removing the structure, but noted that the roof still existed, and have subsequently noted that the idol is still at the gazebo.

The seafood stalls

In their letter, Bandra West residents referred to the practice of openly cooking on the stretch and storing oil and utensils on the promenade, requesting the MMB to address the safety concerns of locals. It also questioned why there was a food plaza only in Bandra, and not other areas such as Worli or Marine Drive.

Resident Speak

Renuka Tahiliani, resident, Carter Road
‘The gazebo has functioned as a centre of community interactions. It's an area meant for people to sit in a shaded place. Children used to sit there and read, but it has been encroached'

Past Coverage

On July 12, 2025, mid-day highlighted residents' complaints about encroachment on the Carter Road promenade in the guise of a food plaza for fisherfolk
On November 14, 2025, residents alleged a place of worship was being built in place of the gazebo at one end of the stretch
On February 11, mid-day shed light on residents' objections to the installation of 35 commercial LED hoardings across the promenade, following which the plan was scrapped