The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the construction of a new passenger jetty and terminal at the historic Gateway of India in south Mumbai, dismissing a challenge against the project.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain an appeal filed by petitioner Laura D’Souza against the Bombay High Court’s July 15 order that had upheld the project. The apex court observed that the matter squarely fell within the government’s policy domain and did not warrant judicial interference.
The Bombay High Court had earlier dismissed three petitions challenging the proposed ₹229-crore facility to be built by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). The project involves developing a passenger jetty and terminal on a 1.5-acre stretch of the sea, about 280 metres from the Gateway of India, near the Radio Club in Colaba.
According to official plans, the facility will feature VIP lounges, waiting areas, an amphitheatre, ticket counters, administrative offices, and parking space for 150 vehicles. The jetty itself is designed in the shape of a tennis racquet and will stand on stilts in the sea.
The plea before the Supreme Court alleged that the project would inconvenience local residents, citing unaddressed issues of traffic congestion and strain on civic infrastructure. The petitioners contended that the construction near a heritage monument like the Gateway of India would disrupt the area’s character and accessibility.
