Mumbai: Light-&-sound show, low entry fee to push Gateway tourism

The Gateway of India, one of the iconic monuments associated with Mumbai, may finally breathe a sigh of relief with the state government planning to implement a holistic plan to manage flow of tourists at the site. For the same, it has adopted a four-step process —physical conservation of the monument, a light-and-sound show, relocation of the anchorage and streamlined ticketed entry.

"We are preparing a site management plan for the precinct that will conform to UNESCO norms for protected sites. This is necessary as the site involves multiple stakeholders like the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), state directorate of museums and archaeology and BMC, which leads to management issues," said a senior official from the department of culture.

While the directorate has the monument in its ambit, the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) is vested with the land and the BMC controls the precinct.

The directorate has allocated work on preparing the site management plan to conservation architects. The document, which is expected to be ready in a month, will lay down a statement on what is to be done and not to be done at the site.

"Under this plan, we will undertake structural conservation of the monument. A sound-and-light show, which will portray the history of the city, will be launched. Entry will be based on nominal ticketing and the revenues will be used for conservation and management of the site. The professional photographers who swamp the site will be relocated to a separate photo-point," the official said.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) will develop a jetty at the Radio club, where the existing anchorage at the site will be shifted. "Many of the people who come to the Gateway use it as a transit point to the mainland through the water transport vessels," he added, stating that shifting the anchorage would decongest the precinct substantially.

Apart from the saline environment, the diesel fumes from these boats also affect the basalt structure. The structures at the site like the barricades put up by the police and shelters will also be removed or brought in tune with the aesthetics. The BMC will also undertake maintenance of the premises, statues and the landscaping of the garden.

Earlier, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao had also held a meeting about the conservation of the Gateway of India.

DIVIDING TASKS

• While the directorate has the monument in its ambit, the MbPT is vested with the land and the BMC controls the precinct 
   
• The directorate has allocated work on preparing the site management plan to conservation architects 
   
• MMB will develop a jetty at the Radio club, where the existing anchorage at the site will be shifted