BMC must hear out all suggestions on racecourse

An aerial view of Mahalaxmi racecourse on August 5. Pic/Shadab Khan

The Indian Derby weekend is upon us, and as the race that headlines the Mumbai season is to be run at the Mahalaxmi on Sunday, the turf is at a turbulent and tumultuous stage.

The racecourse has been roiled by several meets, with citizen movements sprouting against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plan to fragment the space, using one part for racing and the other for a public garden or theme park. While the civic body may have its supporters, generally, there is a lot of distrust as people are wary of all promises once the plot is handed over to the state government/municipal corporation.

In that light, a proposal by a former chairman of the club that his illustrious family construct a public park at the racecourse makes sense. He has offered to create and maintain the park. If the government simply wanted an all-access public park on the space, he and his family were willing to make it a reality. He also gave an example of a public park in Pune maintained by the family. The park can be made in such a way that racing and the stables are not disturbed and will be a green, open space accessible to all, taking the Royal Western India Turf Club and BMC along on this project.

This surely can be looked at. If all the BMC wants is a public park so that as they claim the citizenry can enjoy the space, why not look at certain viable suggestions and offers? As a racing man, or men, these persons can with expertise earmark areas which cause little to no disruption to the current space. The BMC/state government, as they say, can also be roped in. Nothing else should be on the agenda, for any party except a public park. For the citizens. Maybe, coming together at a table for this park may be a good tweak in the racecourse tale.