After shelving the Mumbai Eye project, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has unveiled plans for a giant LED sphere along the Bandra Reclamation promenade. This structure, with a diameter of 50 feet, will feature LED panels and a raised platform adorned with 40×40 feet screens on three sides and solar panels on one side.
The primary purpose of the LED sphere?
To showcase advertisements and convey disaster management and public awareness messages, according to reports. Additionally, the design includes a vertical garden beneath the screens, complete with a drip irrigation system and atmospheric water generation technology.
Residents voice concerns
However, residents are far from pleased, arguing that this initiative threatens to commercialise a space designated for public use. Vidya Vaidya, chairperson of the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers’ Association (BRAVO), highlighted a 1999 environmental order prohibiting commercial activity on the seaward side of the sea link.
Previously, a giant ferris wheel was proposed in the same location, but community pushback led to its shelving. Despite these efforts, attempts to commercialise the area have persisted, raising ongoing concerns among residents.
