Bandra Reclamation Promenade Barricaded for MHADA Beautification Works
MUMBAI — Residents in Bandra Reclamation have raised strong concerns after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) barricaded the local promenade for four days to execute construction and beautification works proposed by the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board.
Members of the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers Organisation (BRAVO), a local residents group, expressed fear that the move could result in the promenade being handed over to a private party, depriving the community of a key open space. The barricading comes shortly after local debate regarding a reservation change at a nearby football ground in the area.
Documents show that the Slum Improvement Board, which functions under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from MSRDC for development works along the promenade. Following a communication dated May 11, 2026, MSRDC issued a letter on June 25, 2026, requesting a location sketch and detailed maps before issuing the NOC.
Local residents questioned the involvement of a slum improvement authority at a location with no slum settlements. Nitu Bhambri, secretary of BRAVO, said the promenade had been barricaded for four days and noted that an open-air gymnasium at the site had already been dismantled. Bhambri added that locals were not consulted about plans to erect a shed in the space, which is routinely used by residents for walking and contains a children's play area.
Vidya Vaidya, another BRAVO member, stated that the promenade did not require further beautification and argued that funds should instead address basic public facilities, such as toilets at the western end of the area. BRAVO secretary Neela Shinde questioned the utilization of slum upliftment funds for beautification projects and raised concerns about proposed structures within a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area.
A senior MSRDC official said that the barricading was temporary and that the project involves constructing a covered shed as part of additional beautification along the pathway. The official stated that existing facilities will remain and that the promenade will reopen to the public once the Slum Board completes its work.
Architect Alan Abraham of the Mumbai Architects' Collective stated that public open space in H/W Ward functions as essential urban infrastructure, noting that access, management, and equity remain primary challenges for the area.
