Shripriya Dalmia Thirani thinks Nitin Gadkari's floating jetty will be a jewel in Mumbai’s crown

By Shashi Sunny

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently expressed his displeasure over the Navy’s objection to constructing a floating jetty at Malabar Hill in South Mumbai.

Part of the minister’s plan to drive growth and tourism in the city, the matter stirred a debate on the future of another project — floating restaurants on the Arabian Sea.

In 2017, Delhi-based businesswoman Shripriya Dalmia Thirani had beaten competing parties to win the bid for the project. “This is prime land and opening it up for commercial projects will add to the city’s stature as a global city as well as its revenue,” says the 37-year-old.

Asked about the concerns raised by the Indian Navy, Thirani says the matter doesn’t affect her project since she has secured most permissions. “I only hope that the entire marina project as envisaged by Mr Gadkari comes up on schedule, as it will be a jewel in Mumbai’s crown,” she adds.

Testing the waters


Gadkari had controversially said, “Actually Navy is needed at the borders from where terrorists sneak in. Why does everyone [in the Navy] want to stay in South Mumbai? They [the Navy] had come to me, asking for a plot [of land]. I will not give even an inch of land. Please don't come to me again."

Thirani’s own response to the security threat is that: “The 26/11 attacks in Mumbai [where terrorists used the sea to enter the city] were tragic. But one cannot stop development or improving the city’s infrastructure because of this fear.”