Colaba residents, who have been adamantly against the building of a jetty close to the Gateway of India, are going to submit 19 RTI applications in order to obtain formal approval for the project.
“Seven to eight RTIs have already been submitted, and the remaining ones are in process. These will be addressed to various authorities, including the Maritime Board, Heritage Conservation Committee, and Mumbai Traffic Police, to obtain approval documents and feasibility studies,” said Deepaq Silan, a Colaba resident. Additionally, the residents are considering filing a writ petition or a PIL to challenge the project.
Locals allege that the proposed jetty is primarily intended for VIP use, disregarding key concerns such as traffic congestion and overcrowding. The road outside the Taj Mahal Palace already experiences heavy traffic during peak hours due to tourist vehicles and taxis. The situation worsens on holidays when large crowds gather at the Gateway of India. The residents are advocating for the project to be relocated to Princess Dock, which already has a functional jetty.
The Colaba jetty and terminal, estimated at Rs 229 crore, has been planned between the Gateway of India and Radio Club. Fisheries and Ports Minister Nilesh Rane conducted the ground-breaking ceremony earlier this month, and the project is being executed by the Mumbai Maritime Board.
On Friday, construction work commenced next to the Gateway of India, sparking strong protests from Colaba residents. Many gathered at the site, demanding a copy of the ‘work order’ from labourers, who were unable to produce it, further aggravating tensions. The police later intervened to manage the situation.
Following a meeting on Saturday with local MLA and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, along with Minister Rane, the residents voiced their concerns. In response, Rane ordered a temporary halt to the project until April 10.
“Minister Rane stated that the work would progress slowly, but we demanded a complete halt. We are yet to review all approvals, and further decisions will be made after the next meeting on April 10. We are not against the project itself, but the jetty’s location at Colaba will create major civic issues. We insist on shifting it to Princess Dock,” said Rocky Lobo, a resident who participated in the discussions.
Another resident, Laura D’souza, alleged that the construction had commenced without a valid work order. “The work was halted not because of our protest, but due to the absence of proper documentation. The authorities are now preparing the required paperwork before the April 10 meeting,” she claimed.
BJP leader and former local corporator Makrant Narvekar, who also attended the meeting, emphasised the need for transparency. “We have requested the minister and authorities to provide copies of the approval documents to the residents. We are not against the project, but it should be relocated to Princess Dock, which is a viable alternative,” he said, speaking to The Free Press Journal on Sunday.
Source: The Free Press Journal
