Mumbai Port Trust to build jetty at Girgaum Chowpatty despite BMC objection

The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) will be seeking environmental clearance for the construction of a jetty at Girgaum Chowpatty, behind Birla Krida Kendra (BKK), the cultural hot-spot of south Mumbai.

The MbPT will be applying for it despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) not granting permission to construct a terminal building for the jetty on the piece of land where the BKK stands.

MbPT officials have said that they are going ahead with the plan of constructing the jetty behind the BKK. They are now going to seek environment clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Authority (MCZMA) for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.

An MbPT official said, "We are going to appoint a consultant, who will prepare an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the construction of the jetty."

The MbPT has plans to construct a jetty at Girgaum Chowpatty, as a part of its plan to develop the area as a tourist attraction, by facilitating water sports activities, passenger craft movement, and seaplane operations.

However, it also requires BKK land for this, which occupies around 7,000 sqm of space. It houses a theatre, multi-purpose halls, and a restaurant.

In January, BMC's improvement committee had kept MbPT's permission to constructa terminal building on hold, after corporators from Shiv Sena and Congress had opposed the handing over of the land. Now, the MbPT plans to send a fresh proposal whereby both BKK and terminal building for the jetty will co-exist.

An MbPT official said, "We were not granted permission for the construction of the terminal building for the jetty by the BMC. So, we will re-work and send a new proposal wherein our infrastructure for the terminal building — like ticket counter and waiting area — can co-exist with their auditorium. There should not be any issue with this."