A structure taller than Dubai’s iconic 163-floor Burj Khalifa with a green boulevard bigger than Mumbai’s Marine Drive will form part of a new eastern waterfront to be developed on a wasteland in the country’s financial capital.
These grand plans are part of a dream project of Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, who sees the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) as the “richest landlord” in the city and wants to give a makeover to its huge swathes of industrial wasteland.
“In Mumbai, we are the number one landlord. We (MbPT) are the owners of (the plots for) the iconic Taj Hotel, Ballard Estate and Reliance building. There are plans to develop the huge amount of land that the port trust has,” Gadkari said.
“The plans are ready and we are awaiting Centre’s nod,” he added. He also said: “We are not giving our land to builders and investors. We have plans to develop the area... We are making a green, smart road, three times bigger than the Marine Drive. We plan to build a historic landmark bigger than Burj Khalifa. The plan is ready, we are waiting for approval from the Cabinet.”
A top official said: “About 500 hectares is proposed to be developed with a mix of port operations, business, office, commercial, retail, entertainment and community projects, convention centres, etc.”
A key feature of the plan is a 7-km long marine drive between Mazagaon Docks and Wadala, much bigger than the existing Marine Drive.
MbPT has already invited global tenders from consulting firms for a master plan and infrastructure design of the port.
