Mumbai News: Colaba, Cuffe Parade Residents Hold Silent Candle March Urging Relocation Of VIP Jetty Near Gateway Of India

Mumbai: The residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade took to the streets on Saturday to demand the relocation of the proposed Rs229 crore jetty being constructed near the Gateway of India. Through a silent candle march, the residents also expressed resentment against the political leaders for not doing enough to support the residents’ cause.

Ever since the fisheries and port development minister Nitesh Rane laid the foundation stone for the construction of a VIP jetty near the Gateway of India in March, residents have been opposing the project. They have alleged that the jetty is being planned for the VIPs with vested interest without considering local issues like traffic congestion, overcrowding and damage to the heritage structure.

On Saturday, the residents of South Mumbai, under the banner of South Mumbai Residents United, held a silent candle march from Dr. BR Ambedkar statue on Madam Cama Rd to the Radio Club promenade to mark their protest against the jetty being constructed near the heritage precinct of the Gateway of India. The protestors sported blue t-shirts which printed slogans like ‘Shift Jetty, Save Colaba’ and ‘Colaba’s Voice is Loud and Clear, Shift the Jetty, it can’t be here’.

Imran Mesiwala, a member of the 3rd and 4th Pasta Lane Residents’ Association, said, “On one hand the municipal corporation is talking about walkable Mumbai but it is being destroyed whatever little is left to walk. They are not accepting the fact that the entire precinct is a heritage vista. The sea is also very rough during monsoon and they will have to shut down services or four months. Even after so many issues, they are rushing for the project, which makes us feel that there is something fishy.”

The residents have demanded that the jetty should be constructed at the Princess Dock which has maritime facilities and infrastructure to support the protest. They alleged that constructing the jetty near the Gateway of India would harm the heritage vista and also increase traffic congestion in the locality. The residents also expressed resentment against political leaders including local politicians alleging that they have not supported the residents in the cause.

Laura D’Souza, president of the Cuffe Parade Residents’ Association (CPRA), said, “We feel that our elected representatives have not stood by us. Even after the last time they promised that the work would not start for another week, it was started the very next day. We have urged our elected representatives multiple times to write a letter to the MMB asking them to shift the jetty, but failed.”

The residents have already moved the Bombay High Court against the proposed jetty. The Clean Heritage Colaba Residents’ Association (CHCRA) has filed a writ petition, which was heard on Friday wherein the state government had stated that it would not demolish the heritage wall near the Gateway of India till June 20. Simultaneously, the CPRA as well as 3rh and 4th Pasta Lane Residents’ Association of Colaba have also filed a public interest litigation, which is expected to be heard on Monday.