The city’s only remaining open space along the eastern coast — Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) land — will soon have a 138-storey tower competing with the likes of Burj Khalifa in Dubai, gardens, a marina, floatel and water sports. With BPT having discontinued port operations a few years ago and shifted based to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai, the government is planning to develop the area for recreation. In fact, Union port minister Nitin Gadkari has been very vocal about the idea.
On May 30, a proposal titled “Mumbai Port Trust Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2016-2020)” was presented at the MbPT board meeting in which the development plan was rolled out. According to the proposal, “As more than 60 per cent cargo is handled by Mumbai Port through pipelines and requirement of land for port-related activities is decreasing, some of its lands can be utilised for meeting the urgent aspirations of Mumbai city and raising resources through monetisation of land”. While the board will meet again to make note of suggestions and objections and finalise the plan, dock unions and trustees have opposed it, calling it “misuse of land”.
According to the proposed plan, the city’s aspirations include sea-side developments somewhat on the lines of Burj Khalifa, a convention centre, marine museum, international cruise terminal at Gateway of India, marina and floatels. A sea plane from Marine Drive to Juhu is also part of the proposal. The proposed floatel will have 500 rooms and tourists will be able to experience dinners on board. One such floating restaurant will come up at Gateway of India, while the other will come up at Girgaum Chowpatty. The marina bay off Marine Drive will be developed as an entertainment and tourist zone with water sports, yacht moorings, parasailing, dinner cruises and so on.
The MbPT has also suggested not renewing the lease of lands for various establishments so that it can have more space for development. “A detailed master plan be prepared for MbPT’s port lands which are not required for docks, warehousing or related activities. Leases on these lands will not be renewed. Land blocked by unused and under-utilised warehouses, godowns and tankages on MbPT land will be retrieved to seek contiguous land mass,” as per the plan.
MbPT chairman Sanjay Bhatia confirmed the development plan, saying, “These are recommendations we have sought from various agencies. New development ideas have been discussed but are yet to be finalised. We are going to invite global tenders for planner and development manager within 15 days to check availability of land to implement the ideas,” Mr Bhatia told The Asian Age.
However, S.K. Shetye, president of Mumbai Port Trust, Dock and General Employees Union, called it misuse of land. “The government will exploit the land to make profit. We will go to court if it pushes the plan,” he warned.
