Mumbai civic body’s jetty plan for Girgaum Chowpatty hits roadlock

BMC’s improvements committee decide to keep the proposal pending till they receive the development plans for the jetty

The civic body's proposal to convert part of the open space at the Girgaum Chowpatty into a multipurpose jetty has hit a roadblock after municipal councillors disagreed on using the Birla Kreeda Kendra’s space, which includes an auditorium that has been lying unused for years. The Brihanmumbai's Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) improvements committee on Monday decided to keep the proposal pending till they receive the development plans for the jetty.

Several councillors said the auditorium in the Birla Kreeda Kendra’s space should be made available to the public. (HT FILE)

The BMC had proposed last month to transfer 2,791 square metre of the leased land to the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) for setting up a multipurpose jetty and a recreational centre. Following this, the improvements committee members inspected the spot on January 9.

A civic official who was present during the inspection said, “The Kendra building is dilapidated now. It should have been redeveloped in 2000. Since then, it has been lying unused. But since it is a cultural space for Mumbaikars, the jetty can be built 200 square metre away from Kendra.”

Several councillors said the auditorium should be made available to the public and if possible, the jetty should be built at an alternative location. "The city should have spaces for performing arts. We need to check how many theatre spaces are there in the city and how many are proposed," said Shiv Sena councillor Shraddha Jadhav.

The BPT will give details of the project plan to the improvements committee after it is concretised by the end of this month, said a spokesperson of the BPT. Prakash Gangadhare, ex-chairman of the BMC improvements committee and a BJP corporator, said, “The BMC is against development. If the proposal is not passed in the next meeting, it shall be put to vote."