Don’t Use Girgaum Chowpatty Volleyball Ground For Orange Gate Tunnel Substation, Maharashtra Minister Urges Mumbai Authorities

Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has urged Mumbai authorities to reconsider plans to build an electrical substation on Girgaum Chowpatty volleyball ground for the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground road tunnel project. Lodha, the MLA from Malabar Hill constituency, met with the Mumbai City additional collector and resident officer, urging them to retain the playground for public use.

He pointed out that there are at least two alternative sites for the substation construction, including a railway plot nearby and another site at Girgaum Chowpatty where earlier work had begun. The proposal for the substation on the volleyball ground came from a high-powered committee, but Lodha said most members now agree to consider the alternative locations.

He emphasized that volleyball is a popular sport played by ordinary citizens, with around 300 to 500 people playing daily from 6am. Lodha requested the preservation of the ground for public use. The Rs 8,056-crore Orange Gate-Marine Drive Tunnel project aims to reduce traffic in south Mumbai by linking the Eastern Freeway directly with the Coastal Road.

Once completed, it is expected to cut travel time from Orange Gate to Marine Drive from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes.