Mumbai residents object to alleged illegal commercialisation of Carter Road promenade

Mumbai: At least 70 residents, mostly from Bandra West, wrote to the BMC, objecting to what they described as the "illegal commercialisation" of the Carter Road Promenade.In their letter sent on February 23, residents pointed out that both the Carter Road Promenade and Bandstand Promenade are designated Green Open Spaces under Mumbai's Development Plan (DP-2034). Additionally, both promenades fall within the Coastal Regulation Zone and are categorised as CRZ-III (No Development Zone) on the DP-2034.
Despite these protections, residents alleged that the promenades were opened up for commercial exploitation, in clear violation of planning and environmental norms. "We are shocked to see that commercial activities are being permitted in areas that are legally protected as open spaces," the letter stated.Residents further expressed concern over the erection of commercial hoardings along the Carter Road Promenade, arguing that such installations not only breached CRZ regulations but also compromised the public character of 1 of Mumbai's most heavily used waterfront open spaces.Apart from hoardings, the residents also said in their letter that they saw sections of the Promenade cordoned off for private events, preventing public access to these public open spaces.Last week, amid mounting complaints from residents of Bandra West over the alleged commercialisation of the Carter Road Promenade, local BJP MLA and guardian minister Ashish Shelar ordered a review of permissions granted for commercial installations of the LED hoardings, and sought clarity on the promenade's maintenance framework.