Mumbai: The ferry owners operating at Gateway of India have come out in opposition against the Rs 229 crore VIP jetty proposed to be built near the Gateway of India. The ferry operators’ association has claimed that the jetty would not be suitable for berthing their boats.
The proposed jetty to be built near the Gateway of India by Maharashtra Maritime Board has been facing strong opposition from the residents of South Mumbai. While the residents allege that the project will be troublesome for the locals due to its adverse impact on the environment, traffic congestion and the heritage precinct, two separate groups have also moved the Bombay High Court against the project.
The Gateway Elephanta Jal-Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit has alleged that the proposed jetty will not be suitable for berthing their boats as it will be built 650mtr deep into the sea. The association has claimed that it would be futile to have a jetty at the designated location as the water is very choppy deep in the sea and the sea becomes very turbulent for berthing.
“We have clearly observed the plan and well understand that this entire plan for the new jetty is faulty and will not be workable for us ferry operators at all,” read the letter written by the association to the residents’ association on Monday.
On March 18, the minister of fisheries and ports development Nitesh Rane announced that the jetty would be exclusively for yachts of VIPs, celebrities, and cricketers. However, as the project does not officially signify its exclusivity for VIPs, there is a lot of uncertainty looming over people whether it will be of any use to the common people as well as the ferry operators.
Talking to The Free Press Journal, the secretary of the ferry operators’ association Iqbal Mukadam said, “Our association has around 100 ferries while another 250 smaller boats as well as speed boats are also operated from the Gateway of India. This is our livelihood and we have been kept in uncertainty about the outcome of this project.”
