The Maharashtra Maritime Board has begun work on a proposal to develop a floating jetty and marina at Nariman Point, with state Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane directing officials to advance the project, according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
The proposed Nariman Point marina project is intended to provide dedicated berthing facilities for private yachts, speedboats and luxury boats operating in Mumbai. The move comes as existing jetties around the Gateway of India are being used for passenger services, tourism operations and private boats, creating congestion and management challenges, the report said.
Mumbai currently lacks sufficient and convenient marina space for privately owned boats and vessels used for recreation, according to the report. Yacht owners and operators are also using facilities in the Gateway area, where multiple forms of water transport converge. The proposed facility at Nariman Point is expected to separate private and recreational boating activity from the wider passenger and tourism operations handled at existing jetties.
The concept under consideration includes more than berthing infrastructure. The proposed marina could include a yacht club, restaurants, cafés, exhibition space, seminar facilities and other tourism-related amenities. These components would make the project a combined marine leisure and waterfront tourism development rather than a standalone jetty.
The project may be implemented through a public-private partnership, according to the report. However, the material currently available does not specify whether a formal tender has been issued, which private entities may participate, or when construction could begin. It also does not establish that the proposal has received final administrative, environmental or financial approval.
A preliminary estimate places the cost of marine works at around ₹243 crore, while land-based facilities are estimated at approximately ₹15 crore. The report does not provide a final project cost, technical design, capacity for boats or details of the proposed operating model.
The proposal is also being discussed in the context of expected changes around Nariman Point. The report notes that the Air India building in the area is expected to house the state secretariat in the future. It does not, however, specify how that proposed relocation would affect the marina’s design, access arrangements or waterfront traffic management.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board’s next steps, including the preparation of a detailed project plan, approvals, procurement process and implementation schedule, will determine whether the Nariman Point floating jetty and marina moves beyond the proposal stage.
