The BMC has halted the construction of an underground parking lot at Amarsons in Breach Candy following strong opposition from local residents. The residents have raised concerns about the potential congestion, especially on Bhulabhai Desai Road. They have appealed to Cabinet Minister and MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha for intervention. Their request includes either relocating the parking lot or altering the project’s exit to Nepean Sea Road in order to alleviate traffic issues in the area.
The BMC is constructing underground parking facilities along the Mumbai Coastal Road, with a total capacity of 1,857 vehicles spread across four key locations: Amarsons at Breach Candy, NSCI Worli, near BinduMadhav Thackeray Chowk, and opposite Dr. Annie Besant Road in Worli. Among these, the Amarsons site will accommodate 245 vehicles in a two-story parking structure. This initiative is part of a larger plan to improve parking infrastructure and alleviate congestion along the coastal route, according to a civic official.
While construction work for the parking facility in Worli is ongoing, the BMC has encountered strong opposition regarding the parking facility at Amarsons.
A senior civic official confirmed that the construction work at the Amarsons site has been temporarily halted. Nigum Lakhani, a member of Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF), said, “The proposed parking lot at Amarsons could worsen traffic congestion in the area, which has already increased due to the Marine Drive route. Currently, traffic jams occur near Mukesh Chowk when traveling from Bhulabhai Desai Road to Nepean Sea Road. Since the parking lot is close to Bhulabhai Desai Road, vehicles exiting it would exacerbate the problem.”He pointed out that after the residents expressed concern about the sea water seepage due to the digging the BMC has installed dewatering pumps 24/7 at the site.
The BCRF had submitted a progress report to the chief engineer overseeing the Coastal Road project, which emphasised several concerns. These included the need to prevent access from Bhulabhai Desai Road to avoid traffic congestion, a halt to plans for religious tourism, and the importance of avoiding the creation of water-wasting lawns or the inclusion of noisy activities at the site.
