Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while visiting the Coastal Road on Thursday, announced that the city would get its first central park, which will span 320 acres. The state government has decided to set up the park on 120 acres of Mahalaxmi racecourse land as well as 200 acres of land reclaimed for the Coastal Road.

Speaking to the media during his visit, Shinde said, the southbound section of the Coastal Road was ready and it would be opened to the public soon. “Another part of the project is 90 per cent complete,” he said. “The BMC has decided to develop a park on 200 acres of land reclaimed for the project. This will be added to 120 acres of racecourse land,” Shinde added.