MBPT open to more ideas, suggestions, says chairman

MUMBAI: Responding to all the flak that the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) recently received on its new development proposal for the eastern waterfront, MBPT chairman Sanjay Bhatia said that the trust is still open to ideas and suggestions from citizens.

Bhatia was addressing citizens at an event organised by the V-citizens Action Network at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club on Wednesday, when he said all 920 objections that the MBPT has received will be studied in detail.

He said, “We will take the next four months to analyse all the plans. We will look at every issue deeply and also consult plannin experts. We are completely ope to all suggestions and ideas, how ever, citizens must note that the port activities are not going to close down and only 282 hectares of the 966.30 hectares are available for development.” In December 2018, MBPT had released a plan, for the 966.30 hectares of land between Wadala and Colaba, for public scrutiny. The last date for citizens to file their objections on the report was January 28.

The MBPT will be sending the report to the Maharashtra government and the Central government for a final approval.

In a series of reports, HT has highlighted on how the plan looked more at commercial development unlike the previous Rani Jadhav committee report that emphasised on using the port land for providing more open and green spaces to the city.

However, Bhatia said, “We have not followed the Rani Jad-

To develop the eastern waterfront as port and sea tourism destination

Unlock the commercial value of the land and assets

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he previous n port that emphasised on using the land for providing more open spaces to the city.

hav committee report which probably looked at zero port activities. We have followed some principles from the report.”

The Central government had set up the committee under ex-mbpt chairman Rani Jadhav to suggest ways for rejuvenating the port lands.

Bhatia said that at present the Mumbai port ranks number four in cargo handling. It deals with 62 million tonnes of cargo every year. “While cargo still continues,, we are looking at cruises as

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a major directional change. We are looking at almost 300 ships coming to Mumbai in 2020. In any economy, tourism is a major boost.”

Experts have pointed that the plan must look at providing more affordable housing, in-situ rehabilitation of the informal sector and the slums in the area and walkable open spaces. Majority of citizen groups have also opposed the idea of reclaiming 93 hectares at Haji Bunder for providing a large open space to the city.