The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a plan to relocate the iconic Mahalaxmi racecourse from its current location in south Mumbai to the Mulund dumping ground and a private parcel next to it. The racecourse, which is a Grade II-B heritage site according to the 1995 Heritage Regulations of Greater Bombay, has been leased to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) since 1914. However, the lease expired close to a decade ago and the BMC is now looking to take ownership of the land and convert it into a theme park.
The Mulund dumping ground, which spans 24 hectares, was closed in 2018 and contained approximately 7 million cubic meters of waste that was to be processed using scientific methods. It is unclear at this time whether the BMC will be able to acquire the private parcel of land, as it may need to be purchased at current market rates, which could be costly.
The proposal to relocate the racecourse has been met with mixed reactions. While the BMC passed a resolution in 2013 to convert the racecourse into a theme park, former chairman of the RWITC, Jain, has called the proposal "unnecessary media speculation" and stated that the club has not received any communication from the BMC or the state government about the plan. It remains to be seen what the final outcome of the proposal will be and whether the racecourse will be relocated to the Mulund site.
The Mahalaxmi racecourse is a well-known and beloved landmark in Mumbai, and the proposal to relocate it has sparked debate and raised questions about the future of the site. The BMC's plan to transform the racecourse into a theme park and move it to the Mulund dumping ground is sure to continue to be a controversial and closely watched issue in the city.
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