The Bombay High Court on Tuesday disposed of petitions against the construction of a jetty at Colaba in South Mumbai, issuing certain directions that the facilities constructed at the jetty will only be used to provide convenience to passengers and not for any other purposes.

The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne held that the project appeared to be a well-considered decision aimed at addressing several safety, security and other concerns regarding the existing five outdated jetties being used by 30-35 lakh passengers annually at the Gateway of India.

The proposal for constructing the “Passenger Jetty and Terminal Facilities” involves erecting a “Terminal Platform” area measuring 80 x 80 meters, providing parking for 150 cars, a VIP waiting area, a food court, cafe, and ticket counters/administrative areas.

This terminal area, with a frontage of 250 ft on the seaside pavement, is to be built at a height of 4.5 meters from road level. The proposed construction also includes a tennis racquet-shaped jetty extending 570 meters into the sea and 203 meters wide, with 10 boarding platforms extending from the jetty’s outer rim. An open-air amphitheatre is also proposed to be located on the jetty. The built-up area over the sea on stilts of piles is stated to be 25,116 sq. meters.

The bench clarified that facilities like the amphitheatre and restaurant/cafe are only ancillary to the project and must be used solely to make the passenger jetty functional. The amphitheatre cannot be used for entertainment purposes, and the proposed restaurant/cafe shall be limited to providing water and packed food products to passengers and shall not offer dining facilities.

The bench also noted that no sewage treatment plant is envisaged in the project. “The functioning of the facilities should not be detrimental to the environment,” the bench stated.

The bench further directed the State to ensure that after the new jetty’s construction, the existing jetties near the Gateway are discontinued as directed by the Indian Navy.

The bench was hearing three petitions challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision to construct a passenger jetty and terminal near the Gateway.

The petitioners, Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA), Laura D’Souza, two other residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade, and a third petition filed by Shabnam Minwalla and others, had opposed the project citing environmental concerns, traffic congestion, and restricted public access to the heritage site, the Gateway of India.

The petitioners alleged that part of the seaside wall of the Gateway’s promenade would be demolished to create access to the terminal, and claimed that project approval was granted by concerned authorities without proper application of mind.

Maharashtra Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf, appearing for the Maharashtra Maritime Board, opposed the petitions while submitting that the existing jetties at the Gateway were insufficient for the ever-growing passenger needs. He stressed that the new jetties had been under planning for over two decades and would greatly improve convenience for passengers traveling for work to South Mumbai from neighboring districts like Raigad every day.

– Ends

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