Mahalaxmi Racecourse is an iconic part of South Bombay. It has been there for more than a century and has hosted many iconic events ranging from concerts to fleamarkets. The land of the racecourse is leased out by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) and is owned by both the Brihanmumbai Municipality Corporation (BMC) and the Government of India. Back in 2013, the BMC filed a proposition to move the racecourse to Mulund Dumping ground.
BMC Suggests Relocating Mahalaxmi Racecourse
In 2013, the BMC passed a resolution for converting the land on which the Mahalaxmi Racecourse stands into a theme park. It is all set to write to the state government, informing them of its plan to take ownership of the land. Legally, it is stipulated that the BMC should provide another piece of land to the RWITC.
Hence, the BMC has suggested the Mulund Dumping Ground for this purpose. The land on which the Mahalaxmi Racecourse stands is close to 9 lakh sq. m. and 2.5 lakh sq. m. of this is owned by the BMC. Since the lease expired close to a decade ago, the BMC hasn’t accepted any rent from the RWITC as their legal team suggested that it could be construed as a willingness to extend the lease.
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The Reclamation Of Mulund Dumping Ground
The Mulund Dumping Ground was the second largest landfill in the city after the one in Deonar. In 2018, the dumping ground was officially closed and the government started the process of reclaiming the land and turning it into a green space. Around ₹650 crores are being spent on the project.
The officials have hired numerous companies to scientifically process the garbage on the land and a total of six years have been assigned for the completion of this project. Since the land would not be big enough on its own, the BMC plans on purchasing a nearby private piece of land and clubbing it with the dumping ground.
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Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons