Mumbaikars Up in Arms! Proposed Jetty Near Gateway of India Faces Fierce Public Opposition
Proposed Jetty Near Gateway of India Faces Fierce Opposition Over Environmental and Heritage Concerns
Mumbaikars have always loved and cherished the heritage of the city. But heritage goals and development are always at cross-roads as cities expands at a rapid pace. Be it the coastal road, or the development around Haji Ali, the city's residents have not been an easy side-step for the governments in power. There's now a new entrant to the residents' opposition list.
The Rs 229-crore passenger jetty and terminal project near Mumbai’s Gateway of India, spearheaded by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), is now the latest project to have ignited strong opposition from Colaba residents, environmentalists, and heritage conservationists.
Planned near the Radio Club, 500 meters from the iconic landmark, the project aims to decongest the existing jetty, a hub for ferries to Elephanta Caves and Mandwa, by accommodating 20 boats and featuring a 350-person amphitheater, berthing facilities, and beautification works.
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Approved by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the 2025-26 budget and inaugurated by Ports Minister Nitesh Rane on March 14, 2025, the project is part of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s 100-day program. However, locals, organized under the Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA), argue it threatens Mumbai’s cultural and environmental fabric.
Residents highlight severe environmental risks, including potential damage from drilling the seabed, which could exacerbate flooding amid rising sea levels and climate change. The project’s 600-800 meter encroachment into the sea is seen as a hazard, with CHCRA spokesperson Rocky Lobo warning of “catastrophic consequences” for Colaba’s ecosystem and heritage sites like the Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace.
Traffic congestion, already worsened by illegal parking and hawkers, is another concern, with locals like Subhash Motwani criticizing the lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation. The CHCRA suggests relocating the jetty to Princess Dock or Ballard Pier, areas with existing infrastructure. Political support from figures like Rahul Narwekar, Milind Deora, and Arvind Sawant has bolstered the protests, leading to a temporary halt in construction.
Residents, backed by nearly 2,800 petition signatures, are pursuing 19 RTIs and a potential PIL to challenge the project’s approvals, which they claim were rushed under political pressure. While Rane defends the project’s necessity for the 35 lakh annual visitors, assuring minimal disruption, the opposition remains steadfast, ready to escalate legally if concerns go unaddressed.
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