Breach Candy Residents Alarmed by Sea Water Seepage from Coastal Road Excavation

Residents of Breach Candy have expressed alarm over sea water seepage resulting from the ongoing excavation for an underground car parking facility by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) along the Coastal Road. This project aims to create additional parking spaces to alleviate congestion in the area, with a total capacity for 1,857 vehicles across four locations. However, the excavation has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding the impact on the natural landscape and the potential for soil subsidence affecting nearby buildings. Nigum Lakhani, a local resident, highlighted the geological implications of the excavation, noting that the area is built on reclaimed land and that the deep trenching has led to persistent water inflow. Despite the BMC's efforts to manage the situation with pumps, residents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures. The Breach Candy Resident Association has called for a meeting with project engineers to discuss the ongoing issues and seek assurances regarding the management of sea water seepage. Environmental activists have also criticized the necessity of the parking facility, pointing out that existing public parking lots in the vicinity are underutilized. Zoru Bhathena, an activist, emphasized that the project appears to favor developers rather than addressing the community's needs. The BMC, however, maintains that the project is still in its early stages and that precautions are being taken to mitigate environmental impacts. As the excavation continues, the community remains vigilant, questioning the long-term implications of the project on both the environment and local infrastructure. The situation underscores the tension between urban development and environmental preservation in Mumbai.