In a fresh development regarding the contentious jetty project near the Gateway of India, environmental activist Zoru Bhathena has filed a formal complaint opposing the inclusion of a car parking facility within the proposed structure. Addressing the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhathena highlighted that the jetty is being constructed within Coastal Regulation Zone-IV (CRZ-IV), an area where vehicular movement and parking are prohibited. “It is a jetty for boats, not for cars,” his letter stated, citing concerns over potential regulatory violations.
The state government has allocated Rs 229 crore for the construction of the jetty at Apollo Bunder, located between the Gateway of India and the Radio Club. Although the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was performed last month by Minister of Ports and Fisheries Nitesh Rane, the initiative has met with stiff resistance from Colaba residents. The Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) has raised objections citing traffic congestion, environmental damage, and the adverse impact on the heritage character of the area.
Bhathena’s complaint refers to a news report stating that 1.58 acres of car parking has been proposed at the jetty site. He argues that such a facility would violate earlier MCZMA recommendations from its 93rd meeting in August 2014, which explicitly stated that vehicular infrastructure is impermissible on a marine jetty. According to Bhathena, the planned car park seems to be a workaround for the lack of parking availability in the surrounding area.
The letter further criticises the Taj Mahal Hotel for keeping its dedicated parking space locked, thereby aggravating existing traffic and parking issues. Bhathena urged the BMC to open up these closed parking areas and demanded that the MMB restrict the project’s purpose strictly to water transport. “The MCZMA must ensure that no aspect of the project violates CRZ regulations, and the BMC should make shut parking facilities in the area operational,” he said.
In the meantime, the CHCRA has requested 27 official papers, such as project approvals, feasibility assessments, and environmental clearances, and is still expecting a response from government authorities. Rahul Narwekar, the Speaker of the Assembly and Colaba MLA, met with the group on April 19 and assured them that the documents will be released by April 22. After neighbours and MLA Narwekar expressed their concerns at a public meeting on March 29, Minister Rane issued an order halting work on the jetty.
Source: The Free Press Journal
