Recommendations for AQI reducing and Climate-Resilient Landscape Planning for Coastal Road Green Spaces

Dear Madam Mayor, Thank you for your recent response regarding Mumbai’s rising AQI levels and the urgent need to improve the city’s air quality. Mumbai is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable coastal megacities, facing rising temperatures, worsening air pollution and increasing flood risk. The creation of more than 100 acres of reclaimed land along the Coastal Road presents a rare opportunity to address these challenges through large-scale urban greening. The proposal for a **Mumbai Coastal Forest (MCF)** envisions these spaces as a **dense native urban forest rather than ornamental gardens**, with layered vegetation that cools the city, filters polluted air and improves ecological resilience. Research shows that dense tree canopy can reduce surrounding temperatures by **2–4°C** and significantly reduce particulate pollution. This approach aligns closely with the **Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP)**, which calls for expanding urban tree canopy, improving stormwater absorption, and creating green infrastructure that strengthens climate resilience and improves air quality. Cities around the world demonstrate the environmental value of large urban forests. **Central Park**, for example, functions not only as a public park but also as a major ecological buffer that cools surrounding neighbourhoods and improves urban air quality. The Coastal Road open spaces present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create similar climate infrastructure for Mumbai. If you could kindly share an email address, we would be happy to send a short concept note with visuals illustrating the Mumbai Coastal Forest proposal. We would also be grateful for the opportunity to briefly share the idea with you or your team. Warm regards, Mamta Mangaldas On behalf Of Breach Candy Residents Forum