Overview

• A silent protest on April 5, 2025, at Colaba’s Arthur Bunder Road drew over 500 residents opposing the proposed VVIP jetty near the Gateway of India.
• Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and other political leaders joined the protest, assuring residents of their support but offering no concrete action to halt the project.
• Residents argue the jetty threatens heritage structures, worsens traffic congestion, and eliminates public space, emphasizing the lack of prior public consultation.
• The community plans to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court next week, alleging regulatory non-compliance by the Mumbai Maritime Board.
• A meeting with the state’s Minister of Ports Development, Nitesh Rane, is scheduled for April 10 to formally object to the project and propose alternative solutions.