Mahalaxmi Racecourse to transform into Mumbai’s Central Park

Mumbai is set to get a worldclass Central Park spread over 295 acres combining the open space at Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road areaThe proposal was presented to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on December 15 2025A presentation on the project was attended by Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and citys famous architect Hafeez Contractor officials saidShinde described the park as ldquothe biggest gift for Mumbaikarsrdquo ensuring no concrete structures will be built and the historical heritage of the racecourse will remain untouchedPark features and sports complexThe 125acre Mahalaxmi Racecourse area will host the main Central Park while the 170acre Coastal Road area will complement it making a total of 295 acresUnderneath the park a 10 lakh sq ft worldclass sports complex will be developed offering facilities for international sports as well as traditional Indian games like KhoKho and Kabaddi an official statement saidShinde said that visitors could even see horses in the park and the park surface will remain free of any structures except pathwaysA 1200meter underground passage will connect the park to Mumbai Coastal Road allowing smooth traffic flow The project has a tender of Rs 550 crore and the designs were prepared by Hafeez Contractor the statement saidCentral Park features City Forest 12 acres Reducing pollution and providing oxygen Gardens and Open Concert Grounds 77 acres Botanical Garden Indoor Concert Arena Convention Centre 31 acres MultiSport Arena beneath Central Garden Including aquatics boxing skating gymnastics basketball and other facilities for youth and sports enthusiastsConnectivity and transportationBMC chief Bhushan Gagrani on Monday stated that the park will be connected to Metro 3rsquos Nehru Science Centre station via an underground corridor which will extend along Annie Besant Road to Haji Ali and connect to Coastal Road Coastal Road parking will have the capacity for 1200 cars and 100 buses ensuring proper traffic managementThe Central Park will act as a 300acre oxygen park helping reduce pollution in Mumbai said the officialsShinde also noted that road concreting across the city will complete by May and sewage treatment projects by 6 December 2026 fulfilling the governmentrsquos promisesThane to get Indiarsquos tallest viewing tower and snow parkThane will see a 50acre area developed with Indiarsquos tallest viewing tower standing at 260 meters Eiffel Tower is 300 meters Other attractions includeconvention Centre at Kasarvadavali25acre town park at KolsetAgriKoli museumaquarium and science centre and an international standard snow park along with a amusement park and adventure park the official statement saidThe park will also have a 125acre bird museum25acre musical concert centre and a 50acre advanced sports complex it saidThane Municipal Corporation will develop an 184 km green corridor connecting with Sanjay Gandhi National Park along MiraBhayandar border it saidShinde said these projects will enhance sports infrastructure recreational facilities and the quality of life for Thane residents Most of these projects will be developed under BOT BuildOperateTransfer modelThe officials said that the Mahalaxmi Racecourse previously accessible only to the elite will now be open to the public The Central Park will serve as Mumbairsquos major oxygen parkThey said that the complete layout of the park has been prepared by Hafeez Contractor and the tenders for the park are already underwayThe racecoursersquos heritage will remain preserved said the officials adding that three interconnected zones over 120 acres will be linked underground for smooth traffic flow