The state’s first marina will come up just off the Mumbai coast.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board is all set to build the facility, which would house close to 200 yachts and boats, in Mandwa.
The marina is expected to be built at an estimated cost of Rs200 crore and it will provide a safe parking area along with maintenance facilities to luxury vessels owned by the who’s who of society and corporate houses.
The state home department had first mooted the idea of having a marina next to the Gateway of India, a couple of years ago.
But the marina site had to be changed after stiff opposition from defence authorities and the Mumbai Port Trust. The maritime board then identified a few locations — Mandwa, Malad creek, Vasai creek, Belapur and Dharamtar creek — for constructing the facility, before they finally zeroed in on Mandwa.
According to officials from the board, Mandwa is the most favoured site for the marina. “All the yachts and boats are centralised near Gateway of India and the surrounding areas. The Marina’s proximity to the area of operation will always be preferred,” said an official.
Ashwani Kumar, chief executive officer, Maharashtra Maritime Board, said: “We are in the process of appointing a consultant to check the financial, marketing and other feasibility. Also, the potential of the clientele has to be closely considered. The project will probably be undertaken on public private partnership basis.
We do not have the expertise in the field and hence an international consultant will be appointed,” Kumar said.
The marina will also help the maritime board streamline movement of yachts and boats around Mumbai coast and also encourage people to buy yachts.
“Our country does not have the tradition of owning yachts like in European countries. With the availability of a safe and systematic anchoring facility, yacht tradition could slowly and steadily come up,” said a board official. “Currently, it becomes difficult for owners to anchor their yachts during the monsoon time. The marina will not only provide them with a safe place to park their yachts, it will also be a hub for refuelling, repairs and washing the luxury vessels.”
