Panel report on Mumbai port land revamp next week

The Centre-appointed Mumbai port land development committee will submit its report to Nitin Gadkari in an event scheduled next week, the date for which is yet to be decided.

The much-awaited report on ways in which the Mumbai port land can be opened up is all set to be submitted next week.

The Centre-appointed port land development committee will submit its report to Union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari in an event scheduled next week, the date for which is yet to be decided.

The report has a broad overview on ways in which the land should be developed to benefit Mumbai. Once submitted, the ministry will take a call on the direction of the port overhaul project.

HT had reported the contents of the report, which include a new formula of reserving one-third of the total land for open spaces, 25% for developing transportation facilities, 40% for paid amenities for citizens and tourist spots and the remaining 5% for amenities such as health care and police stations.

Moreover, the report states 1,000 acres of the total 1,800 acres could be opened up.

“The report is ready. We are waiting for the minister to come down and hold a final meeting before it is submitted. Once it is done, the ministry will study the proposals and take a decision,” said a source in the trust, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

However, as HT reported on Thursday, Gadkari has ordered the port authorities to start efforts to free up the land by evicting errant leaseholders, who occupy close to 36% of the total land.

The committee was set up in June by Gadkari and given three months to study the ambitious project of opening up and overhauling the eastern waterfront.

The committee, headed by former port trust chairman Rani Jadhav, was given a two-month extension and its report is now ready.

The report recommends the formation of an independent, autonomous body to spearhead the port overhaul.