Mumbai: Outdoor sports, an aviary, a beach boardwalk, Ferris wheel, amphitheatre, and coastal gardens are some of the attractions planned along Mumbai’s Coastal Road South as a part of a landscaping project. Having got clearance from Supreme Court, Reliance Industries Limited—the company appointed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to develop the area—will present its final plan this week.
The master plan will then be approved by the BMC’s five-member landscape committee, and the entire area is expected to be developed as an open space in the next 24 months, a BMC official told ThePrint. Reliance will undertake this maintenance of this project over 30 years, with the option to extend the lease for another 30.
Mumbai’s southbound coastal road, that is open to the public along with the promenade, was developed over 110 hectares of reclaimed land. Out of this, 70 hectares were earmarked for landscaping and plantation, including 4.8 hectares developed as a median by the Tata Group. Some 11 hectares were developed by the BMC as a promenade, and roughly 51 hectares would be developed by Reliance Industries as landscape, leaving the remainder to be developed by the corporation itself.
One of the constraints in the Supreme Court order of 2022 mentioned that “the land reclaimed would not be utilised for any residential or commercial development/purposes, presently or any given time”. When Reliance Industries was awarded the contract in October 2025, however, the company presented a plan with ticketed attractions. The BMC then asked them to take approval from the court for any type of ticketed attraction, which the court cleared on 11 June, 2026.
“There will be certain areas that will be chargeable like certain sports activities. However, we want to make sure that similar activities will also be free of cost to the larger public. The final master plan will be submitted later this week when we will come to know what areas will actually be chargeable. However, that will be only 15 percent of the total area,” a BMC official in the know told ThePrint.
The official further said that BMC will make sure that the major attractions will be free of charge for the public.
ThePrint reached out to Reliance Industries via the media communication contact. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
The coastal road plan
As per the draft Master Plan submitted by the company to the BMC—which ThePrint has seen—multiple gardens, along with a sports arena and landmark attractions are planned along the coastal road. This includes over 50 percent for forest-like areas, about 25 percent of open recreation areas, around 10 percent for food plazas and an equal proportion for pathways.
The forest-like planned areas will have tropical trees to enhance biodiversity, with a mix of coconut, palm, and broadleaf trees. At some places, ‘Miyawaki’—Japan-styled urban forest techniques—would be used, too.
The landscaping would have multiple amenities to attract families and alike. From children’s play area to cricket maidan, the proposed plan has something for all.
There will be a beach boardwalk, sunset views, a bird trail, petting zoo, art studio along the woods, Ferris wheel along with play area for kids across various neighbourhoods, like Nepean Sea Road, Haji Ali Junction, and Worli.
In terms of sports, the plan is to develop tennis courts, pickleball courts, badminton courts, basketball courts, along with football and cricket turfs. A larger number of cultural activities are also planned, like a common prayer area near the Mahalaxmi temple, and activities like yoga, an amphitheatre and walkways. The area would also be pet-friendly, and will have an extensive bird watching trail, the plan has suggested.
Legal obligations
The Coastal Road project had run into multiple litigations over its timeline. One of the crucial orders was on September 2022, which prohibited any commercial activities or residential usage of the reclaimed land.
After passing many hurdles, the southbound coastal road was opened in stages from March 2024, July 2024 and finally in September 2024 when it was connected to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Then in August 2025, the promenade was opened to the public, but landscaping remained for which the BMC awarded an Expression of Interest to Reliance Industries in October 2025. Reliance will develop this area under its corporate social responsibility umbrella for over Rs 400 crore.
After that, a writ petition was filed by an individual against this EOI fearing that it would violate the court order of 2022. The interim order of January 2026, however, said, “It shall suffice to say that the said area ought to be accessible for general public for its free use except making provision with respect to maintaining the project with high standards and in the best possible manner.”
“It is suffice to say that if the agency and the corporation wish to carry out any activities necessary for attracting visitors or developing iconic parks or centers for public attraction including recreational attraction and other regulated facility by charging some fee it may be permitted to be introduced on limited areas thereby the safety, security and public order can be maintained,” the court further said.
Meanwhile, three meetings of the landscaping committee were held to discuss the Master Plan submitted by Reliance Company. At previous meetings, RIL had suggested more area to be used for recreational ticketed attractions, about which the BMC had reservations.
The BMC wanted the company to seek Supreme Court approval for commercial/ticketed activities before start of work. It was also discussed that RIL can use a maximum of 15 per cent of the area for recreational amenities or access control.
It also further directed the proposal be put up before a higher authority for in-principle approval but not before RIL takes approval from the Supreme Court, the BMC official told ThePrint. On 11 June 2026, the apex court cleared the way.
In its final order, the Supreme Court said, “The applicant will not use more than 15 percent area as recreational activities/ticketed access control.” Now, RIL will within a week submit its final master plan with a maximum of 15 percent of the area under ticketed access control.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)