A year after partially taking over the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Deputy Chief Minister of Mumbai Eknath Shinde announced that the entire 120 acres would be turned into a massive green open space, similar to New York’s Central Park.
Speaking at the Idea Exchange Conclave of The Indian Express in Mumbai, Shinde said he had proposed the idea soon after becoming Chief Minister. The plan is to make the area a world-class park where people can relax and breathe in the fast-paced city.
Agreement between BMC and RWITC
In July 2024, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) signed a lease agreement. Out of the total 211-acre Racecourse plot, 120 acres have now come under BMC’s control, while RWITC continues to hold 91 acres until May 2053.
Shinde assured that no construction would be carried out on the plot. Instead, the idea is to give Mumbaikars a lush green space filled with pathways, walkways and sitting areas, without handing it over to real estate developers.
The Indian Express quoted an official as saying, “The open space will resemble London’s Hyde Park or New York’s famous Central Park and the ownership of the land will stay with the BMC only and no private party will have any stake on this land parcel”.
Linking with coastal road open space
Shinde added that the new park will be linked with the 170-acre open space created by the coastal road project through an underground tunnel. This will give citizens access to nearly 300 acres of continuous open space at one time.
“The coastal road has given Mumbaikars an open space of 170 acres, which we will link with the Mahalaxmi racecourse through an underground tunnel,” Shinde said. Adding to this he mentioned that, “at one single time, Mumbaikars will get access to close to 300 acres of open space”.
Lease history of the racecourse
The Mahalaxmi Racecourse has been leased to RWITC since 1914. The lease was renewed several times, with the last one ending in 2013. Since then, the government and BMC have been debating its future use. RWITC’s request for a new lease remained pending for over a decade.
Between 2013 and 2023, the BMC did not charge any rent for the plot. It was only in July 2024 that a fresh lease was signed, giving BMC control over 120 acres. The Racecourse grounds, besides derby races, are also used for concerts and major events.