Mumbai Port Trust's (MbPT) ambitious plan to develop the waterfront and related activities overcame a major hurdle as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation carved out Port's Water Front Development Zone in the development plan 2034 and in the Development Control & Promotion Regulations. The proposed zone will spread over 112.85 hectares. BMC's general body, which has recently cleared this proposal, has sent it for state government approval. MbPT will be entitled to develop the port and port-related activities with the prior approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). These activities include restaurants and hotels, rest houses, marina along with commercial activities, aquariums, maritime and naval museums, water sports, marine parks, cruises, and operational offices. A BMC officer told DNA, "The civic body will grant approval for development and redevelopment in the proposed zone only after the master layout plan incorporating all reservations ad designation. MbPT will prepare detail master plan of its area showing different land use sectors with basic infrastructure and social amenities in accordance with the proposed Development Control & Promotion Regulations 2034 and get the approval of the municipal commissioner (MC). MbPT will, however, be entitled to modify such layout subject to the MC's nod.'' MbPT will have the option to continue with the existing industrial activities in the proposed zone and will have the liberty to relocate the same within the zone or to convert them into activities conforming to the zone. Land use will be permissible in the industrial zone. BMC has proposed 1.33-floor space index in the Water Front Development Zone subject to other restrictions. However, MbPT will have to provide a separate area as per the state government's directives for social housing, subject to the development control regulations. The redevelopment or retention of any existing area undertaken by the government, semi-government organisation, BMC, and Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA), will be permitted under these regulations. THE PROJECT

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