Latest news with #MaharashtraMaritimeBoard
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Changing City: Work begins on Mahim Causeway bridge, key connector linking South Mumbai and suburbs
To ease congestion between Mahim and S V Road as well as the Western Express Highway, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has commenced work on the project to redevelop and widen the existing old bridge across Mithi River at Mahim Causeway into a 10-lane arch bridge. A key connector linking the western suburbs and South Mumbai, the bridge passes over Mithi River and forms a part of the Mahim Causeway, whose history dates back as early as the 1840s. The bridge links S V Road in the H/West ward to Mahim in G/North ward and other parts of South Mumbai. However, with the decades-old structure becoming a severe bottleneck owing to increasing vehicular density, the BMC in 2017 charted plans to redevelop the existing bridge and widen it into a 10-lane bridge. According to officials, the project will be executed in two phases. In the first phase, the BMC will construct two new bridges on either side of the existing structure. Following this, traffic will be rerouted on the lanes of the new bridges, paving the way for the next phase. In the second phase, the civic body will raze the existing structure to reconstruct the next part of the bridge. The existing 44.1 m-long bridge has three lanes on each side and is 31.8 m in width. The new bridge will be widened to 52 m with five lanes on each carriageway and have an increased length of 104 m. While the existing structure comprises an RCC deck slab, the upcoming structure is proposed to be a double-arch bridge. Currently, the civic body has commenced work on the fabrication of the metal girders of the bridge on the eastern side of the existing structure. Furthermore, work on three of the four abutments of the structure has already been executed. The contract cost of the project is pegged at Rs 103.26 crore. Currently, the bridge work is in the preliminary stage, with the project estimated to be completed in two years. While the work order of the project was awarded in 2018, the project faced delays owing to the procurement of forest cell permission, as the bridge is aligned along a protected mangrove area. The project received the Maharashtra Maritime Board's no-objection certificate as well as the final Stage 2 approval from the forest department in January 2024, after which the work gathered pace. Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Projects, told The Indian Express, 'At present, the bridge work is still in its initial phase and we will be executing the project phase-wise. Once complete, the new bridge will aid in relieving traffic on A K Vaidya Marg, Mahim Causeway, Western Express Highway, S V Road, as well as Lady Jamshedji Road.'
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Third petition filed in HC opposing proposed jetty project at Radio Club
MUMBAI: A third petition has been filed in the Bombay high court opposing the proposed jetty project and terminal facilities near Radio Club at Apollo Bunder even as the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) asked the court to not entertain such petitions, claiming the project aims to relieve the burden on the existing jetties. The petition, filed on June 9 by Shabnam Minwalla, an author and journalist, said that the construction of the jetty and terminal facilities would have a negative impact on the area and cause grave harm to local residents. She said that the project was not only illegal, but violated the constitutional rights of local residents, and should not be permitted. The petition challenged the construction of the jetty which will allegedly decongest the Gateway of India. On the other hand, an affidavit filed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) on June 7 claimed that the petitioners have ignored the larger public interest and are opposing the project based on their perceived personal inconvenience. The project seeks to address a long-standing need for a safe, modern, and well-equipped jetty facility that would improve connectivity between the mainland and other areas including, Navi Mumbai, Mandwa or Alibaug, Elephanta Island, etc and decongest the existing jetties at the Gateway of India monument. Stating that the existing jetty facilities are inadequate, the MMB said that the new project will not only improve connectivity and cater to the increased demand for water transport services from the mainland to other areas but will also decongest the crowd and road traffic at the Gateway of India monument. The MMB said that the petitions filed by the residents have failed to establish how this development will cause them any direct legal harm or violate their fundamental rights. The MMB added that after the navy refused to clear the proposal to construct a floating jetty pontoon at the Gateway of India, it suggested constructing a jetty near Radio club at Apollo Bunder. Following that, the MMB examined other locations too before proposing the passenger jetty with additional facilities near Radio Club. Minwalla's petition highlighted that the project had not been cleared under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, and added that approval of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019 by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) was invalid. The petition said that this new project would put more load on the already crumbling infrastructure in the area. 'The project contemplates the operation of a large jetty with a capacity of 20 berths in the midst of a primarily residential and already congested area. It will increase congestion, traffic, noise, and pollution in the area,' it said. The petition cited Supreme Court orders and said principles of sustainable development, the doctrine of public trust, and the precautionary principle, are part of the law and must be followed in matters of town planning and urban development. 'The project will diminish the grandeur and visual spectacle of the Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Hotel in particular, and the Apollo Bunder promenade and sea-facing structures in general,' it added. Minwalla asked the Bombay high court to intervene and stop the construction of the project and put a hold on the permissions given to the project so far. The court is set to hear the matter along with the other two petitions on June 16. Replying to the MMB, Melwyn Fernandes, a Thane based social activist, said, 'The whole world will not come and knock on the door of this court and have the capacity to fight with the present dictatorship government's infrastructure projects.' Fernandes said that such projects were objectionable, unnecessary, and had not considered local citizens, Indian heritage, and environmental spaces. He added, 'Only a handful, the economically sound people can come to this court on behalf of 100% citizens of this country.'
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gateway to Navi Mumbai Airport in 40 min: E-water taxis, marina to speed up commute
As work on the Rs 190 crore Gateway of India-Radio Club marina project has begun and the state govt has already announced plans for water taxis, the transport scenario on the city's eastern waterfront is slated to offer citizens game-changing commute to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. E-water taxi project Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) will operate 15 electric boats on the Gateway of India–Elephanta Caves–Alibaug route. Cost: Rs 330 crore; eachboat will cost Rs 22 crore. The plan, recently submitted to MMB, was suggested by Kochi Water Metro, the project consultant. Services likely to begin by end of monsoon, initially with 2 vessels, with capacity for 30 passengers each. Boat manufacturer : Candella, a Swedish firm specialising in hydrofoil technology. Design of the new boats Computer-guided underwater hydrofoil used to elevate hull out of water and minimise drag, giving illusion of flying. Hydrofoil boats consume much less energy than traditional high-speed ferries and operate at 18-30 knots. Marina project Currently, 30-35L passengers travel each year from jetties along the Gateway of India to Elephanta, Alibaug, and Navi Mumbai Given the huge potential, MMB has awarded contracts for the construction of marinas at Gateway of India and Radio Club, to tackle handling of 2.5 lakh+ passengers/year. How the marina and water taxis will help traffic bound for new airport Quick commute: 40-minute journey from south Mumbai to the airport Faster than road: It will save more than 30 minutes compared to travel via MTHL Eco-friendly travel: Electric taxis cut emissions and pollution Decongest roads: Less load on road and rail infrastructure Fuel saver: Less dependence on vehicles Scenic route: Pleasant travel via Mumbai harbour, Gateway, Elephanta and flamingo habitat at Nerul-Belapur creek Deadline for the project is 2027. The marina project will have a parking facility for 150 cars, huge terminal waiting areas, a luggage handling system, an open air amphitheatre and e-golf carts for transportation.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Drilling is cracking Gateway promenade wall: SoBo locals
Mumbai: Colaba residents have raised concerns about cracks in the stone wall of the Gateway promenade, extending beyond the cordoned jetty construction area. These cracks are allegedly caused by pile drilling for a new Rs 200 crore marina project for passenger ferry boats and catamarans, between Radio club and the Taj promenade. Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), in collaboration with RKC International, is constructing a modern marina worth Rs 190 cr, designed to accommodate 20 passenger boats. MMB officials dismissed the concerns, stating the cracks predated the construction. They assert their advanced piling machine generates only 20 surds of vibration, well below the permitted 50-60 surds. MMB chairman Pradeep Prabhakar dismissed the circulated crack photos as "fake", stating the wall was already deteriorating before construction began. Dr Laura Dsouza, head of Cuffe Parade Residents Assn, said the wall has developed fresh cracks, with portions crumbling due to construction vibrations. Former resident and architect Moayyed Fatehi warned of irreversible nature of piles driven into rocky seabed and potential wall damage before rains. TNN Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
05-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
How Maharashtra eyes a pie of global ship-breaking hub Alang's business
Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to approve a policy for shipbuilding and recycling. The cabinet approved the Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy, 2025 on April 29.A robust shipbuilding and repair industry has economic as well as strategic considerations for Maharashtra, which has a 720-km-long coastline spread over the districts of Palghar, Thane, Mumbai city and suburbs, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Rane, minister for ports and fisheries, said the policy aimed to attract investments to the tune of Rs 6,600 crore and create 40,000 jobs in the sector by 2030. 'By 2047, we are targeting an investment of Rs 18,000 crore and 330,000 jobs. We have formulated the policy accordingly,' he informed. The government also aims to provide skill development training to youth to help them get employment in the policy is also expected to generate revenue for the Maharashtra Maritime Board. The board will create infrastructure such as roads and capital subsidies for these projects. Rane said that while Alang in Gujarat has been the hub for ship-breaking activities, the Mahayuti government wanted to attract the business to Maharashtra and ensure that the state accounted for around a third of the ships broken down and recycled in the is the world's largest ship-breaking cluster. The global shipbuilding market is estimated at $70 billion (Rs 5.9 lakh crore), primarily dominated by China, South Korea and Japan. China's share of the shipbuilding business is 50 per cent, followed by South Korea (28 per cent) and Japan (15 per cent). India holds just 1 per cent of the global ship-repair market is worth $12 billion (Rs 1.01 lakh crore), and dominated by China, Singapore, Bahrain and Dubai. Globally, India ranks second in ship-recycling, but is facing rising potential competition from Bangladesh and Pakistan on account of higher yields and limited regulatory compliances. India is among the top five countries supplying trained manpower for the maritime India is one of the market leaders in ship-recycling, ship repair is a very nascent market in itself. Maharashtra's policy is in line with the Union government's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision to India Today Magazine
