Mumbai Port Trust invites tenders to build city's first marina

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Port Trust has invited tenders to build a specially designed harbour at the port for luxury boats, in an effort to build develop an attractive waterfront in the city. This specially designed harbour, known as marina to many, will be spread over 4.5 hectares in water and one hectare over land, with a capacity to accommodate 124 luxury boats such as yachts and catamarans.

India has been woefully short of marinas leading to a lack of parking space, repairing and fuelling facilities for these extremely expensive purchases by India's elite.

A lack of infrastructure coupled with regulatory restrictions has frustrated yacht owners in the city. The new marina will definitely provide a relief for many owners, who were hoping to get rid their yachts.

However, the marina will not be restricted only to the rich of the city, and will also be developed into a tourist destination with recreational and water entertainment attractions. The marina project in Mumbai is expected to be completed in the next two years.

"Water sports, harbour cruises, floating restaurants will be encouraged," said Gautam Dey, deputy traffic manager at Mumbai Port Trust, told The Economic Times. He said the space will be given on lease for 30 years, with an option to expand the area under marina after the first five years of operation.

The project cost is expected to be about 60 crore, of which Mumbai Port Trust will get 10 crore as an upfront payment. The port will also earn 3.62 crore as yearly payment from the winning bidder. The application process closes by end November.

Two more marinas are expected to come up in the city over the next 3-5 years. Goa, Gujarat, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are also building marinas.