Today, On 15th July, The Bombay High Court has permitted the construction of a new passenger jetty and terminal at the Gateway of India. The court noted the project’s objective is to provide better facilities and reduce congestion at the heritage site.
New Delhi: The Bombay High Court granted permission for the construction of a new passenger jetty and terminal at the Gateway of India in south Mumbai, subject to specific conditions.
A bench led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision for the project.
However, the court stipulated that the proposed amphitheatre will serve solely as a seating area for passengers, rather than as a venue for entertainment.
Similarly, any restaurant or café must only offer water and packaged food, prohibiting dining facilities, as per the judges’ instructions.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board is tasked with ensuring that the existing four jetties will be phased out after the new project is completed, following guidelines set by the Indian Navy.
The court emphasized that the project aligns with sustainable development principles, noting that it is being executed with minimal environmental impact.
The High Court remarked that the government’s policy decision does not exhibit “vice of arbitrariness, irrationality and non-application of mind.”
The court observed,
“Pursuit of development is not an affront to the environment when it walks the careful path of sustainability, guarded by regulations and reason.”
A series of petitions had argued that constructing near the Gateway of India, a significant Mumbai landmark, would harm the environment.
The Court authorized the Jetty project to move forward while providing several directives:
- The proposed amphitheater must only function as a seating area and cannot be used for entertainment activities.
- The café within the facility is permitted to serve only water and pre-packaged food, and it must not offer any dining services.
- The current jetty operations should be gradually phased out.
Additionally, the Court raised concerns about the absence of sewage treatment facilities in the project’s plans.
The project entails building a terminal platform, a parking area for 150 vehicles, a VIP waiting zone, an amphitheatre, a food court, a café, and ticket counters. The court acknowledged that the new jetty will serve as an embarkation and disembarkation point for passengers without handling cargo or fish.
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The HC stated,
“The objective of the project is to provide better facilities to existing passengers using the old jetties and to decongest the Gateway of India,”
Currently, there are five operational jetties that have been in service for nearly a century, with one exclusively for the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
According to the Maharashtra Maritime Board, approximately 3.5 million passengers utilize the four jetties each year, which are now deemed inadequate. Ferries from the Gateway of India transport passengers to Alibag in the neighboring Raigad district.
Case Title: Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association vs. State of Maharashtra & Ors