Won't give excess MbPT land to builders, says Nitin Gadkari

MUMBAI: Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari today said Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) will not give its excess land to builders but utilise it for benefit of the city.

"We will not be selling any land to builders, please do not have any such misconceptions," Gadkari told reporters.

Gadkari said MbPT, which holds excess land, will be discontinuing bulk cargo operations like handling coal and ores as they affects traffic and cause pollution in the city.

For car exports, state-run Cidco has identified land across the harbour in Navi Mumbai from where the operations can be handled, Gadkari said, adding this will also reduce the loads on roads in Mumbai.

The port land will be used for construction of convention centre, parks, setting up passenger service terminals and marina for anchoring private yachts, he said.

The minister also said that his ministry is in the process of engaging an international consultant on how to best utilise this land and also invited suggestions from people.

According to analysts, the land on the eastern seafront in space-crunched Mumbai possesses a big opportunity for the developers, but Gadkari's comments have put an end to speculations over utilisation of the same.

He said the liquid operations of the port, which generates over 65 per cent of the revenue, will continue.

Gadkari further said that an alternate port has already been identified that will undertake the same work, but declined to specify the alternative, saying the Maharashtra government has to give his nod for the same.

"Nobody will be unemployed as a result of this and the port will not cease operations," he said.