Building in Mumbai to dwarf the Burj Khalifa

The ministry of shipping is planning to build the tallest structure in the world on Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) land on the west coast of Mumbai. The proposed building would be taller than even Dubai’s 163-floor Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world at 829.8 metres.

Union minister for road transport and highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari said the proposal was in the primary stage but his ministry was committed to the plan and would join hands with the state government to help it materialise.

“We plan to build a super-tall structure which will be taller than Burj Khalifa. It will have hotels and restaurants, convention centres, car parking and other facilities,” said Mr Gadkari.

Mr Gadkari told this newspaper that most of the land that belonged to the MbPT had been encroached upon, but the government would rehabilitate each and every family living in the area. He said the land would be vacated completely and, besides the highrise, a huge garden and a recreation centre would be developed on the land.

When asked about where the tenants would be rehabilitated, he said they would be shifted to another piece of land that also belongs to the MbPT. “We have 17 acres of land in Wadala where they will be given a house under Maharashtra state’s SRA scheme. We will also build medical and nursing college at Wadala where these rehabilitated families would be provided medical facilities free of cost,” he said.

He said his department would ask the state to provide a floor space index of 4 in order to develop the SRA scheme for the MbPT slum dwellers. “I have spoken about the plan with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and we are working together on it,” he said.

MbPT has 1,800 acres, with a market value of Rs 75,000 crore - in the city. In 2014, Mr Gadkari had announced a cruise terminal, waterway projects, a 500-room floating hotel to be anchored off the Raj Bhavan coast, three to four floating restaurants, a Ferris wheel on the lines of London Eye and marinas and jetties to promote intra-city water transport in Mumbai.

Mr Gadkari has appointed Rani Jadhav, former chairperson of the MbPT committee, to suggest measures to develop MbPT land. The committee has already submitted its report to the Union shipping ministry. Mr Gadkari said his ministry is considering the suggestions in the report.