August 13, 2025: In a significant step under Mumbai’s waterfront development strategy, the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) has invited bids to lease 28 parcels of coastal land totaling over 217 acres in the city’s eastern belt and parts of Alibaug for 30 years. The initiative, aimed at generating an annual income of over Rs 800 crore, will allow only commercial and industrial projects, with no residential development permitted.
The land parcels are located in key zones such as Wadala, Sewri, Reay Road, P D’Mello Road, Colaba, Fort, Mazgaon, Sassoon Dock, Mallet Bunder, and one near Thal Beach in Alibaug. Notable assets include a 22-hectare stretch at Princess Dock near the cruise terminal, a 29-acre former HPCL site in Wadala, a 10-acre former FCI warehouse plot, the Sewri Timber Pond site, and frontage along the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
This move marks a departure from an earlier, more ambitious eastern waterfront plan envisioned in 2018 under then-chairperson Sanjay Bhatia, which proposed promenades, parks, marinas, cultural hubs, and public spaces. That vision appears to have been largely shelved.
Officials say the current Expression of Interest process is intended to gauge market interest before advancing to formal proposals. However, critics argue that leasing parcels in isolation could hinder cohesive planning and reduce opportunities for integrated public access.
Historically, several Mumbai precincts have faced fragmented development, with commercial priorities overtaking long-term urban vision. Observers caution that this latest leasing drive could lock prime stretches of the city’s coastline into private control for decades, potentially limiting future opportunities to create inclusive, publicly accessible waterfront spaces. For now, the MbPA is moving forward with its commercial-first approach, reshaping how Mumbai’s eastern seafront may evolve in the coming years.
Source: Prop News Time
