Mumbai Docklands to be Redeveloped for a Waterfront
The government is planning a redevelopment of Mumbai’s most derelict docklands. It is predicted that if the government panel can have its way, it enable them to create a waterfront which the city people can visit to lift their spirits and the rich can go to play.
Mumbai is the second most densely populated city in the world which explains its shortage of open space. Narinder Nayar, a businessman and member of the panel states that the steps taken by the government for redevelopment of docklands can give some much needed open space to the city.
Present day Scenario: About 7 kms of the Mumbai Port Trust owned land is up for redevelopment. This area is primarily composed of crumbling warehouses at present, although many informal housing and workers make their living by breaking down disused ships by sorting out scraps such as metal. Mumbai Port Trust is the largest landowner in India’s financial hub Mumbai.
Estimated Value: The estimated land value as revealed by the government is 12 billion dollars that amounts to Rs.73, 000 crores.
Project Plans: The project is believed to be a shining example of how urban regeneration in India should look like, said Nitin Gadkari, Transport Minister. He also plans to set up a giant ferris wheel, similar to the London Eye. Gadkari also cited examples of other well-developed urban cities of the world such as New York, London, Sidney and even Barcelona and draws inspiration from them to redevelop former industrial areas into a waterfront.
30 per cent of the land will be opened up as public space which will include the construction of a hospital, affordable housing etc. The area will also be linked with new train lines for improved connectivity. The Panel also plans to build a floating hotel and convention center and a luxury marina that is aimed at catering the city’s super rich crowd. Tenders for these projects have already been out.
Bombay as it was previously called has had a natural harbour and most part of the city has been built on reclaimed land by joining up various small islands off the Indian west coast. There are various climactic challenges faced by the city for which it has a poor track record of urban planning. Some people feel that such a project will fail to get off or simply succumb to unregulated building sprees across the country.
Source: NDTV Profit
