{
  "id": 2197234,
  "title": "Mumbai: BMC Approves ₹702.44-Crore Underground Pedestrian Link From Mahalaxmi To Coastal Road Despite Opposition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/mumbai-bmc-approves-702-44-crore-underground-pedestrian-link-from",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T18:07:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-approves-70244-crore-underground-pedestrian-link-from-mahalaxmi-to-coastal-road-despite-opposition"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's civic body approved a ₹702.44 crores underground pedestrian link connecting Mahalaxmi Metro Station with the Coastal Road and Worli Promenade, despite opposition from the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and MNS corporators. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi questioned the BMC's financial capacity to fund the project, which is being executed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL). MNS group leader Yashwant Killedar said, “We are not opposing the project, but why should the BMC spend the money?” Despite this, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance pushed the proposal through by majority vote. The 1.518-km underground passage will link Mahalaxmi Racecourse Metro Station to the Coastal Road Garden and promenade, improving access to events, religious and recreational destinations, and bolstering public transport connectivity.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, August 20, 2026: The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress corporators slammed the BMC’s Rs 702.44 crore outlay for an underground pedestrian vestibule linking the Mahalaxmi Racecourse/Science Centre Metro Station area with the Coastal Road and Worli Promenade. They questioned why the cash-strapped civic body should foot the bill for a project being executed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Maharashtra Approves ₹8,535 Crore Mumbai Metro Line 10 Project With Ghodbunder Road Widening",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/maharashtra-approves-8-535-crore-mumbai-metro-line-10-project-with",
        "published": "2026-08-20T16:18:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}