The Maharashtra government plans to transform the sea-facing Worli Dairy land, approximately 16 acres in central Mumbai, into a commercial zone, changing its previous designation as a site for a marine research institute, aquarium, and exhibition center.
The Urban Development Department has issued a notification under Section 37(1AA) of the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act, 1966, inviting public objections and suggestions within a month.
The Worli division plot was initially marked as ‘dairy’ in the Development Plan 2034 and zoned for residential use. In 2021, the government updated its designation to include ‘marine research institute, aquarium, and exhibition center’ and ‘government offices.’
The revised designation received approval in February 2022. Nonetheless, during an April 2025 meeting led by the chief minister, the Growth Hub Governing Council decided to appoint the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) as the project implementation agency for Worli Dairy, tasked with preparing draft planning proposals for government approval.
In January 2024, MMRDA urged the government to recognize the site’s potential for planned mixed-use development, which could lead to job creation, requesting its designation as the special planning authority.
Consequently, the government has proposed removing the prior reservation for a marine research institute, aquarium, and exhibition center, suggesting instead to classify the land as part of the commercial zone, as detailed in the notification’s schedule.
The notification invites objections and suggestions regarding the proposed changes within one month from the notice’s publication in the Maharashtra government gazette. These should be sent to the deputy director of town planning in Greater Mumbai.
The deputy director has been assigned the task of evaluating feedback, including inputs from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, and will prepare a report for the state government to make a final decision.
Interested parties can view a part plan illustrating the proposed modifications at the office of the chief engineer (development plan) in the BMC headquarters and at the office of the deputy director of town planning in Azad Maidan.
