P1 Powerboat launch ceremony called off

Mumbai: Owing to the non-payment of marathon dues, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disrupted the official launch ceremony of P1 Powerboat, the Indian Grand Prix of the Global Powerboat Racing series, at the Gateway of India on Thursday.

The event was organised by M/s Procam International, which had recently organised the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in the city. The P1 Powerboat event is to be held from March 3 to 5 at Marine Drive. According to organisers, the state government, the Mumbai Port Trust, and the Indian Navy has supported the initiative.

The launch ceremony was planned at the Gateway of India on Thursday evening. However, BMC officials objected to it saying the organisers have not paid Rs 2.74 crore due to the civic body for holding the marathon on January 15. “We told them permission would be given only after paying the previous dues. Otherwise the event will not be allowed to take place,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of A ward. Keeping in mind the tough stand taken by the BMC, the organisers eventually called off the launch ceremony at the Gateway of India. “It was later shifted to one of the prominent hotels in south Mumbai,” said a Procam official.