Deputy CM Eknath Shinde unveils plan for Central Park at Mahalaxmi racecourse, green push for Thane

Shinde said the park would remain entirely green at the surface level, with no concrete construction, except for walking paths. “This will be the biggest gift to Mumbaikars. The historic legacy of the racecourse will remain untouched,” said the Deputy CM, adding that citizens would be able to view horse racing while walking through the park.

A key feature of the project is a 10 lakh sqft underground sports complex beneath the park, planned as an international-standard facility, with provisions for aquatic sports, boxing, basketball, gymnastics and skating, along with traditional Indian sports such as kabaddi and kho-kho. The complex, according to Shinde, will be environment-friendly.

To manage traffic and visitor movement, the Central Park will be connected to the Coastal Road through a 1.2km underground tunnel, for which a tender worth ₹550 crore has already been issued. The underground network will also link the Nehru Science Centre Metro station on Metro Line 3, extend beneath Annie Besant Road up to Haji Ali, and connect to parking facilities along the Coastal Road. Gagrani said the Coastal Road parking facility will accommodate around 1,200 cars and 100 buses, with underground access designed to prevent congestion on roads.

Calling the project a “300-acre oxygen park”, Shinde said it would help reduce air pollution in the city. He also said all road concretisation works in Mumbai would be completed by May, while sewage treatment projects are targeted for completion by December 6, 2026. “The Mahayuti government has delivered on its promises,” he said.

The plan for Central Park includes a 12-acre city forest, 77 acres reserved for gardens and open concert grounds, and 31 acres earmarked for a botanical garden, indoor concert arena and convention facilities. Three interconnected zones will be linked through underground passages to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow. “The racecourse, once accessible only to a few, will now belong to the city,” Shinde said.

Alongside the announcement of the Central Park for Mumbai, Shinde outlined a series of large-scale projects planned for Thane, including a 260 metre long viewing tower along the Thane Creek, proposed to be the tallest in India. The tower will come up on 50 acres of land. Other projects announced include a convention centre at Kasarvadavli, a 25-acre town park at Kolsheth, an agri–Koli museum, aquarium and science centre, an international-standard snow park, an amusement and adventure park, a bird sanctuary spread over 12.5 acres, a 25-acre musical concert centre and a 50-acre ultra-modern sports complex.

The Thane Municipal Corporation will also develop an 18.4km-long “Anandvan Green Corridor”, connecting Sanjay Gandhi National Park near the Mira-Bhayandar boundary. Most of the projects have entered the tendering stage and will be implemented on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Officials said the projects aim to improve public access to open spaces, create sports infrastructure for young athletes and enhance the overall quality of life in Thane.