The city’s eastern bay at Bhaucha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf) is anticipated to have a world-class marina for private yachts, as well as food courts, stores, event rooms, and cafes, in addition to pleasant waiting lounges with glass facades. The passenger cruise platforms and domestic cruise terminal are located here.
During the Monday commissioning of the new international cruise terminal facility at Ballard Pier in the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) area, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal declared that the MbPT would shortly construct a marina with a capacity of 400 yachts. At the moment, some 300 private yachts are haphazardly anchored around Mumbai’s Radio Club and Gateway of India.
On Monday, Hotel Airport Kohinoor Pvt Ltd was given a 15-year contract by the MbPT to run and manage the passenger terminal and commercial space at Ferry Wharf, which is where M2M Ferries run their Ro-Ro services to Mandwa. Through the Rs 29 crore land-lease agreement, Bhaucha Dhakka’s passenger terminal will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art, effective, and passenger-friendly facility that is connected with a bustling waterfront business district.
The new marina for the growing number of private yachts will be constructed next to the domestic cruise terminus near the Ro-Ro service platforms of Ferry Wharf at an initial estimated cost of approximately Rs 550 crore, while the MMB will construct a Rs 200 crore marina for public passenger boats or catamarans at the Radio Club near the Gateway of India. The government recently revealed plans to purchase 15 electric boats for the Radio Club marina, akin to the Kochi water metro, as part of public transport.
According to MbPT deputy chairman Aadesh Titarmare, the MbPT will also finish building a new Ferry Wharf terminal for 1,200 fishing boats by the end of this year. At a cost of Rs 140 crore, the project is being constructed. The wharf’s jetties and platforms for trawlers and fishing vessels are outdated and dangerous. It is anticipated that this will contribute to both an increase in the quantity and quality of fish caught.
Along with two other restored heritage structures, Fort House at Ballard Estate and Evelyn House at Colaba, Sonowal also officially opened the Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks. As part of the Green Port Initiative, Sonowal also launched the Shore-to-Ship Electric Supply and the Sagar Upvan Garden at Colaba.
The minister gave the Hare Krishna Mission a block of land on Reay Road for a communal kitchen on the same occasion. The largest container terminal in India, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, was given office space at Mallet Bunder in Mumbai for the first time. Additionally, Sonowal was present for the signing of a Rs 5,200 crore Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of cargo and other facilities for the new Vadhavan station.
Source: The Times of India
