‘Not using 966ha on east coast for redevelopment’

HTCOVERAGE

MUMBAI:AFTER the uproar over the Mumbai Port Trust’s (MBPT) plan to focus more on commercial development while allowing redevelopment on its idle land along the eastern coast, the body’s chairman, Sanjay Bhatia, has said they are not planning to open up all of the 966.3 hectares.

“The MBPT requires most of its land for existing commercial activities and for cruise tourism, which is the port’s new focus area,” said Bhatia.

HT, in a three-part series earlier this week, had analysed various aspects of the eastern waterfront revamp plan. The series highlighted how the MBPT’S ₹5,655-crore plan, which includes having an international cruise terminal, water taxis, and a ropeway, among other facilities, may be ideal, but it leaves only 74 hectares of open space for citizens.

Justifying the MBPT’S draft proposal, Bhatia said the Rani Jadhav (former MBPT chairperson) committee report, which had insisted on more open spaces for citizens, was “too broad and could be implemented in totality only 20 years down the line, after port activities had come to a halt”. HT, in a 3-part series, analysed various aspects of the eastern waterfront revamp plan. Taking expert opinions into consideration, the series highlighted how the MBPT’S ₹5,655-cr plan may be ideal on paper, but leaves only 74 hectares of open space for citizens.

Bhatia said 282.57 hectares of land across Darukhana, Haji Bunder and Cotton Green can be freed for development and about 66 per cent of this can be opened for Mumbaiites.

However, urban planners said the draft proposal speaks of the entire 966 hectares. “If the redevelopment is of only 282 hectares, then that should be highlighted in the report,” said Pankaj Joshi, executive director of Urban Design Research Institute. “The report is for the entire 966 hectares and includes proposed changes for areas beyond the 282 hectares.”

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