Residents of Cuffe Parade and Colaba file PIL against the proposed VIP jetty near Gateway of India, citing concerns over environmental and heritage regulations | File Photo
Mumbai: While the writ petition by the Clean Heritage Colaba Residents’ Association (CHCRA) against the proposed VIP jetty was heard on Friday, another public interest litigation was also filed by the residents of Cuffe Parade and Colaba. The petitioners have sought a stay against the construction stating that the project violates multiple environmental, heritage and urban planning regulations.
The Free Press Journal has been consistently reporting about the opposition against the proposed Rs 229 crore VIP jetty near Gateway of India. While the matter has already reached the Bombay High Court through a writ petition filed by CHCRA, three residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade, representing over 150 residents, business owners and visitors of Colaba, have also moved the court with a PIL against the project.
The president of Cuffe Parade Residents’ Association Laura D’Souza as well as Imran Mesiwala and Jitendra Rao from the 3rd and 4th Pasta Lane Residents’ Association of Colaba have filed the petition and drawing all the related authorities to the court, including the Maharashtra government, Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, Heritage Conservation Committee, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Traffic Police and the project’s contractor RKCE Projects Ltd.
The petitioners have sought the court to quash the CRZ, heritage, and Traffic clearances issued for the project and direct the state to immediately cease all construction activities. They have also sought the court to direct the authorities to conduct a comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment, Heritage Impact Assessment and Traffic Impact Assessment, while also constituting an independent expert committee to assess the environmental, heritage and infrastructure implications of the proposed project.
The petitioners have prayed the court to direct the authorities to consider alternative locations for the jetty, while submitting that Princess Dock is a viable and environmentally less-damaging alternative for the proposed development. It added that the area has better road connectivity, is designated for port activities in the Development Plan 2034 and is not located in an environmentally sensitive or a heritage zone.
The petitioners stated that the project will increase traffic in the congested locality and would damage the iconic vista of the Gateway of India. It also submitted that the project violates the Development Control and Promotion Regulations 2034, which provides detailed guidelines for the conservation of heritage structures and precincts.
It also stated that the project fails to meet public necessity as it is said to be exclusively for the VIPs. The petitioners have also added that the project raises national security concerns due to its proximity to the Naval Dockyard.
