October 14, 2025: The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) has received more than 200 responses to its Expression of Interest (EoI) for leasing 28 plots along the city’s eastern waterfront, the authority confirmed. The deadline for submissions is October 15, after being extended from September due to initially low response levels.
The plots, spread across 215 acres and including warehouses at Sassoon Dock, are set to be leased for 30 years for commercial and industrial purposes, with preference given to government organisations. MbPA estimates that the leases could generate approximately ₹814.04 crore in annual revenue.
MbPA chairperson N. Angamutthu said, “We have received more than 200 inquiries for the plots.” The authority had floated the EoI in August, originally setting September as the deadline, but with only ten responses received by then, it extended the submission window to October 15 to encourage greater participation.
While the lease plan promises significant revenue, it has also sparked criticism from urban planners. The initiative effectively sidelines a transformative 2018 plan designed to unlock the potential of 966 hectares of port land along the 28-km eastern coastline from Colaba to Wadala. That earlier plan had envisaged world-class public amenities and open spaces to revitalise the city’s waterfront.
Under the current framework, the plots—many sea-facing—will be allotted for industrial and commercial purposes through an e-tender-cum-e-auction process, with allocation based on the highest premium offered over the reserve price. Critics argue that this approach prioritises revenue over public access and urban revitalisation, raising questions about the long-term vision for Mumbai’s waterfront.
Source: Hindustan Times
