Breach Candy Underground Parking Project Halted by BMC Amid Local Opposition; Future of Site Under Review | Representational Image
Mumbai: Amid strong opposition from local residents, the BMC has shelved the underground parking project at Amarsons, located in the Breach Candy area.
The civic authorities have instructed construction firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to bring the ongoing work to a safe stage and cease further construction. The civic body is now assessing whether the site can be repurposed for other public amenities that may better serve the needs of the local population.
The BMC had planned to construct parking facilities along the Mumbai Coastal Road at four key locations: Amarsons at Breach Candy, NSCI Worli, near BinduMadhav Thackeray Chowk, and opposite Dr. Annie Besant Road in Worli.
However, work on the proposed 246-capacity underground parking at Breach Candy has been stalled since October 2024. This followed objections raised by the Breach Candy Resident Forum after the excavation process began. Despite efforts over the past three months, the BMC has been unable to resolve the concerns of the residents.
“We have instructed L&T to bring the construction at Breach Candy to a safe stage and cease any further work. In the meantime, we have increased the parking capacity at the underground facility near Haji Ali, raising it from 700 to 1,000 spaces. As excavation work at Breach Candy is midway, we are exploring alternative uses for the site, such as a fire station or other public amenities, if feasible. Once we have clarity on this, we will make a final decision. Until then, work at the Amarsons location has been stopped,” said a senior civic official.
The construction of a command centre is currently underway, with RCC work already in advanced stages next to the site. The command centre will feature a transformer, water tank, CCTV display area, control room, conference room, and more.
In a letter to the BMC, the Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF) raised concerns about the proposed underground parking, citing low utilization due to the lack of pedestrian crossings and accessibility issues.
They also noted that many BMC-owned car parks in South Mumbai have become underused and misused. Questioning the project’s long-term viability, the forum requested its abandonment to preserve the quality of life in the congested area, highlighting the negative impact of the existing control centre on proposed green spaces.
