Mumbai: Mahalaxmi Racecourse Transformation Approved: RWITC Members Back BMC’s Theme Park Proposal
Mumbai, 31st January 2024: Members of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) have given their approval to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal to transform the iconic Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai into a theme park. Following a two-day voting session, 540 out of 708 club members supported the BMC’s plan, while 168 voted against it.
The Mahalaxmi Racecourse, spanning 211 acres in Mahalaxmi, is Mumbai’s largest green open space and has been leased to the RWITC since 1914. The previous lease agreement expired in 2013, and the BMC’s renewed lease proposal, presented in January, was contingent on the acquisition of a substantial portion of the land.
According to the BMC’s proposal, approximately 120 acres will be acquired by the authorities, while the remaining 91 acres will stay with the RWITC. The retained portion will include essential facilities such as race tracks, helipads, grandstands (a Grade II-B heritage structure), and some horse stables. The acquired 120-acre plot will be utilized for jogging tracks, additional stables, parking areas, and parts of the lawn.
BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal presented the proposal for a theme park to club members on January 18, assuring that no civil construction would take place on the land to be reclaimed by the BMC. The primary goal is to create a universally accessible park.
The open voting by RWITC members aimed to gauge support for or against the BMC’s proposal, with 540 members voting in favour and 168 against. The primary objective is perceived as securing the renewal of the existing lease. Once the lease is renewed, the RWITC management plans to redevelop some old structures within the compound into a clubhouse.
Despite the majority vote in favour, some members expressed concerns about the lack of a detailed project presentation or blueprint from the BMC. The BMC’s proposal sets the stage for the transformation of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a theme park, pending further planning and development.
