BMC Proposes Rs 1.85 Crore Plan to Redevelop Powai Lake Promenade
On June 16, 2026, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tabled a proposal to spend Rs 1.85 crore to draft a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the Powai Lake promenade along Adi Shankaracharya Marg in Mumbai. The civic body seeks to appoint the infrastructure consultancy firm AECOM Asia Company Limited for a four-month period to prepare the technical design and detailed proposal for the lakefront and its adjoining areas. The BMC has also requested an exemption from the mandatory public tender process for this appointment.
The targeted redevelopment covers a 1.8-kilometre-long stretch of the promenade along Adi Shankaracharya Marg, also known as JVLR, located between the Ganesh Ghat and Pawarwadi immersion points. While this promenade was originally developed in 2008, it has not undergone any significant beautification or restoration work over the last 18 years.
The urgency for the redevelopment has increased due to damage caused by multiple ongoing infrastructure projects along the stretch. Portions of the footpath have been damaged by the construction of access staircases and escalators for the upcoming Metro Line 7 stations at Rambagh and Powai Lake. Additionally, the laying of an underground sewage conduit by the sewerage projects department, aimed at preventing untreated sewage from entering the lake, has further impacted the area.
Civic officials stated that they have received repeated complaints from local residents and elected representatives regarding the deteriorating condition of the promenade. The redevelopment proposal also follows a high-level meeting held in August 2025 under the chairmanship of the secretary to the chief minister. During that meeting, officials were directed to undertake a feasibility study to develop land parcels adjoining the lake and prepare a financially sustainable model capable of generating its own revenue.
Powai Lake is spread across 223 hectares with a 6.61-square-kilometre catchment area. BMC officials noted that any redevelopment will have to be undertaken with extreme caution because of the sensitive ecology of the lake. A civic official stated that since most interventions are proposed along the edge of the lake, the project will need to ensure minimal disturbance to aquatic life and biodiversity.
