Architects, urban planners and designers gathered in Mumbai to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Mahalakshmi Racecourse into a Central Park-style public space. While the plan includes gardens and an underground sports complex, experts raised concerns about restricted access and preserving open spaces
Alan Abraham makes his presentation on Thursday. Pic/Shadab Khan
A collective of architects, urban planners, and designers debated the proposal for the Mahalakshmi race course at a Bandra West venue on Thursday evening, March 5.
Hosted by a number of organisations, the meeting was an open forum discussion on the master plan for the Mahalaxmi racecourse. In a nutshell, there are plans to create a park at the Mahalakshmi race course on the lines of New York’s Central Park or Hyde Park of London, and an underground sports complex and convention centre is also planned. Despite reassurances, there are significant concerns about the future of the space.
Harshad Bhatia, architect
Harshad Bhatia, architect, speaking about clubs in the city, said, “They are on leased land, and once the lease expires, the land goes back to the civic authorities. We need an Open Space policy which designates that these spaces [like the racecourse] be left as they are. The Mahalaxmi space is like a sponge of the city, let us work with nature.”
The next speaker, architect Alan Abraham, took his audience through what has been proposed for the racecourse through a slide presentation. Abraham opined that it looks like there will be controlled access to the space, and it will not be a democratic, public park.
Background
. Of 211 acres of the racecourse, 120 acres have been taken over by the BMC.
. Space being developed into Central Park, comprising a botanical garden, topiary garden, and a city forest.
. Indoor sports complex underneath the race course.
Forum points
. Leave the racecourse as it is.
. Ideal democratic spaces are like Shivaji Park, Azad Maidan, where citizens have all access for free.
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