Pollution control body clears construction of Radio Club jetty near Gateway of India

Indian Express

2 days ago

A week after the Supreme Court refused to stall the construction of a passenger jetty at Radio Club near Gateway of India, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Wednesday granted approval for its construction
The MPCB conveyed this in its letter to the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).
State's Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said, 'The government is taking firm and definitive steps towards the completion of the project.'
The Rs 229-crore project to develop a passenger jetty and a terminal building at Radio Club near the Gateway of India in Mumbai has drawn flak from Colaba residents who cited damage to the heritage precinct and the increased traffic congestion.
According to the local residents, illegal parking is already rampant, with parking along both sides of the Prem Ramchandani Marg between Radio Club and Gateway of India.
With the increase in hawkers and vehicular flow in the precinct, residents have aired concerns over the likelihood of heavier traffic jams and inaccessibility to tourists. Opposing the project, several residents had approached the Bombay High Court.
Last month, the court had refused to grant an interim stay on construction.
While refusing to entertain a plea seeking a stay on the construction, the Supreme Court, too, on May 27, noted that the matter is pending before the Bombay High Court.
'We are not inclined to entertain the matter since the HC has already fixed it for hearing on June 16. However, we would request the HC to take up the matter and decide the same as expeditiously as possible, preferably prior to the end of monsoon 2025,' the order stated.
In a bid to uplift the existing facilities at Gateway of India, which is a hub for significant boat traffic, the MMB is slated to develop a new passenger jetty and a terminal near the iconic landmark in Colaba.
Expected to be completed within 30 months, the new jetty is expected to reroute all boat traffic from the Gateway of India, in what is pegged to reduce existing congestion as well as upgrade the old facilities.
The new jetty will have the capacity to accommodate up to 20 boats at a time, allowing for smoother and more organised operations.
Meanwhile, the terminal building will span 80 square metres and will have a 350-person capacity amphitheatre, a berthing jetty, an approach jetty, a fire safety system, and CCTV, besides gardening and beautification works.