Overview

• The Bombay High Court on July 15 upheld the Maharashtra government’s plan to build a passenger jetty and terminal near the Gateway of India, dismissing petitions from local residents and heritage groups.
• Judges confined amenities strictly to passenger use by ruling that the amphitheatre serve only as a waiting area and the café provide only water and packed food.
• The court mandated environmental safeguards by directing authorities to prevent sewage discharge harm without a dedicated treatment plant, enforce coastal regulation zone clearance, preserve the heritage precinct.
• The decision orders a phased decommissioning of four aging jetties per Indian Navy guidance to ensure a smooth transition to the new terminal.
• Designed to modernize services for over 3.5 million annual commuters, the jetty project aims to decongest ferry traffic and improve safety at Mumbai’s iconic waterfront.