Floating jetty in Mumbai’s Arabian Sea: BMC says no

Mumbai city news: Earlier, the Mumbai (city) collector had also denied permission for the jetty.

While the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) got permission from the Mumbai Port Trust to build a floating jetty off Marine Drive, it was denied permission by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday. MTDC wants to build the jetty for access to a 135- metre luxury liner, which will anchored just off the coast. It was envisioned as the city’s second floating hotel, or floatel.

In March this year, the BMC did not allow a temporary structure for the powerboat racing. (HT)

A panel comprising the municipal commissioner, the commissioner of police and the heritage committee chairman took the decision. It said that no temporary construction could be allowed at Marine Drive as it was a heritage site. Earlier, the Mumbai city collector had also denied permission for the jetty.

The luxury liner, built in Norway, will be anchored two nautical miles off Raj Bhavan. The floating jetty was meant for ferries taking visitors to the liner. MTDC had planned the project to boost tourism.

This is not the first time that the civic body has opposed construction at Marine Drive. In March, it did not allow the building of a temporary structure for a powerboat racing event.

The floating jetty was also meant to support the state government’s amphibian plane project off Nariman Point.

MTDC had planned to start building the jetty by October.

The city’s first floatel, with three restaurants and a banquet hall, was inaugurated in March near Bandra Worli Sea Link.

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