MbPT land won’t go to developers, says Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari made it clear that no developer or builder would ever get a parcel of Mumbai Port Trust’s (MbPT) land. He added that he hopes to turn 250-300 acres of MbPT land into a park.

Gadkari who was in the city for a conclave on ‘Green Ports and Oil Spill Management’, said, “There will be no involvement of builder or developer in MbPT’s development.” He also assured that the whole 250-300 acres of land that is targeted will be utilised by MbPT and there will no commercial development. “This will become the oxygen centre for Mumbai,” added Gadkari.

Recalling his trip to Singapore, he said he was mesmerised by the garden developed by them. It was an Rs 5,000-crore garden and tourist spend $500 to see the garden. Currently, Sanjay Bhatia, chairman of MbPT is preparing the proposal for this garden. Gadkari reiterated the whole idea of this garden in MBPT’s land would be to give Mumbaikars a space to breathe.

Gadkari added that he wants to execute this project to develop a model for others. The road transport, highways and shipping minister said he is in talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Other projects Gadkari thinks will change the way Mumbaikars travel is the ropeway connecting Mumbai Mainland at Sewree with Elephanta Island (a UNESCO world heritage site). He added the ropeway will be eco-friendly, pollution-free and highly energy efficient transportation mode.

Talking about the highway from Meghalaya to Myanmar, he said the government is likely to kickstart work on a highway from Meghalaya to Myanmar, as part of the IndiaMyanmar-Thailand trilateral pact, from next month.

Nitin Gadkari said he hopes to turn 250300 acres of MbPT land into a park