Mumbai Port Trust becomes an eyesore for city infra
By Girish Kuber & Anto T Joseph, TNN |
Highlights
MUMBAI: Politicians and real estate sharks seems to have joined hands to prevent the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) from taking up any expansion projects in the city.
At stake is a huge expanse of land ��� approximately 1,800 acres ��� owned by the MbPT. The Maharashtra government wants to unlock the land mass spread between Colaba to Navi Mumbai, which is believed to be one-eighth of the total area of Mumbai. The state government is in a tug of war with port authorities to prevent MbPT from spreading its activities further in the city.
���The MbPT is a dying port,��� many politicians in the state argue. ���The MbPT should not extend their operations in Mumbai. Instead, they would be given suitable land near Mandwa port or further down,��� the state government told port authorities in one of the meetings recently.
The state government is trying to make out a case against the port expansion by arguing that any further augmentation of the MbPT would result in putting more stress on the city infrastructure. A senior MbPT official said that a lobby is at work against the port, eyeing its prime land and the long water front, and hoping to encash in the current real estate boom.
���The Centre is aware of the move by the lobby, and the rumours floating around the mantralaya. The ministry, however, want us to go ahead with the port���s expansion projects,��� he said. The expansion plan includes Mumbai offshore container terminal along with international cruise terminal complete with marina and convention centre.
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He also rejected the state���s claim that the port activities are adding to the city���s burden. ���MbPT traffic does not even account for 1% of total Mumbai traffic, but some senior government officials have claimed that traffic emanated from the port has created traffic snarls,��� he said. Download
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