The controversy surrounding the Colaba VIP jetty took a sharp turn on Tuesday as the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) resumed construction work near the Gateway of India—just a day after promising Colaba residents that work would be halted for a week. In response, local citizen groups are now preparing to file multiple petitions with the Bombay High Court, challenging the legality of the project.
The Clean Heritage Colaba Residents’ Association (CHCRA), which has been leading protests since March, claimed that MMB is violating heritage norms and pushing forward with the ₹229 crore jetty without sharing critical documents. On Monday, CHCRA members met MMB officials in the presence of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and were promised transparency and a temporary work stoppage. But within 24 hours, barricades were erected again, and workers allegedly began welding them to prevent removal.
“Break of Trust” Fuels Legal Push
“They not only resumed work but are also welding barricades to make it permanent. Workers claim they’ve been told to even break a portion of the heritage wall for access,” said Deepaq Silan, a CHCRA member. “This urgency indicates they fear a possible court stay, so they want to complete critical groundwork before that happens.”
Residents also stated that the promised documentation from MMB had not been received by Tuesday evening. “They’ve broken our trust. Now we are urging more residents and activists to file parallel writ petitions in the High Court,” Silan added.
Legal Grounds and Petition Strategy
On Monday, CHCRA filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court stating that the jetty development is illegal, irrational, arbitrary, and destructive to Mumbai’s historic seafront. The petition seeks a stay on construction until full transparency is ensured through documentation and clear legal compliance.
Advocate Prerak Choudhary, representing CHCRA and also a member, has circulated the case details and documentation with other local groups and individuals. “The aim is to build momentum with multiple legal challenges that the High Court can club for a consolidated hearing,” he said.
Why Are Residents Opposing the Jetty?
- Heritage destruction: The site is adjacent to the Gateway of India, a Grade I heritage structure. Any modification could harm the historic vista.
- Lack of transparency: MMB has not shared plans or environmental reports with residents despite repeated requests.
- Traffic chaos: Locals argue that the VIP jetty would increase congestion in already overburdened South Mumbai.
What’s Next?
The CHCRA is confident that the court will recognize the urgency and act to stop what they call a “hasty and unlawful” project. With multiple petitions expected to be filed over the coming days, the issue is likely to take center stage in Mumbai’s urban legal battles this month.
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