Marina all set to roll out

NAVI MUMBAI: The marina on the east coast of Mumbai, the second one after Kochi, is all set to roll out. MMB, CEO, Vikram Kumar told TOI Tuesday, "We will be getting the land soon from Cidco and demarcate it. I have held meeting with the company that has won the bid and in our meeting they are agreeable to start the marina facilities in one or two months’ time. The marina can take shape and start on CRZ land."
An MMB team also visited the site on Monday.The report, said sources, was positive. "Yes, marina is possible." A total of seven acres of land will be transferred to MMB, said MD Cidco, Bhushan Gagrani. The board has already taken the decision last time and the next board, scheduled end of this month or February beginning, will confirm the minutes of the last board. The land will be transferred to MMB.
The PPP project is in two parts—marina and non-marina activities on the remaining land end of four hectares for which environment clearance will have to be sought. This will take around one-year time, but in the meantime, the marina can start.
The New Land Deal
The issue of transfer of the land had been hanging that has been sorted out. Gagrani said, "MMB has agreed to give a 25% revenue share for the land to be transferred to them. We have also agreed." Sources said, Cidco had asked for Rs 7.5 crore for the land value, but MMB said "it was too much, and asked the land to be provided free of cost. But, as there was no system to give free of cost, Cidco offered the proposal of giving land at a token cost of Rs 1 for a 25% share in the gross revenue. MMB agreed."
Malav Shroff, director of Ocean Blue—the company that operates Kochi marina—told TOI Tuesday, "We are hopeful of the project taking off in another fortnight’s time. There have been positive developments. The land has to be demarcated for the project to take off." Navi Mumbai building construction group that offered highest 40% of gross revenue share will develop the non-marina facilities on the land end for creating an entertainment and food hub and recover the cost. The marina, which includes the non-marina activities on land area, will be developed, operated and maintained by the operator for 30 years," according to the RFP (finance bid or request for proposal).