Ex-BJP Corporator Appeals BMC To Conduct Referendum on ‘Central Park’ At Racecourse And Allow Citizens To Vote

Former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar has written to BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, requesting that the fate of Mahalaxmi racecourse, where a 320-acre central park of international standards is envisioned, be decided through a referendum, allowing locals to vote on the issue.

Narwekar stated that the authorization of 500 or so members of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) for the racecourse’s proposed reconstruction is insufficient. The property belongs to Mumbai residents, and their opinions and votes are crucial, he said.

In his letter to Chahal, Narwekar sought the formation of a high-power committee (HPC) to represent the interests of all stakeholders, citing the importance of racetrack property to the city. Before making any decisions, the BMC must hold a referendum on the matter, he noted.

In the letter Makarand Narwekar said, “If the BMC commissioner thinks that central park is what the city needs. I demand that the BMC must conduct a referendum before going ahead with this ambitious plan. The voice of citizens in the BMC shouldn’t be excluded just because there is no elected body. Any move of going ahead with the proposal is nothing but a betrayal of the citizens.”

Narwekar has been opposed to plans for building a central park, which will include taking over 120 acres of RWITC land and integrating it with a 175-acre garden of coastline road to form ‘Mumbai Central Park’ due to a lack of public input and transparency.

He said, “If the BMC fails to act on the demand of holding the referendum on the racecourse plan, the issue will be taken up with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. We will let go of such an important and largest piece of land under the garb of redevelopment and creation of a central park. We will fight tooth and nail to save this open space.”