Development of Garden along the

Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port.

Pre-feasibility Report

October, 2017

Prepared by

Mumbai Port Trust

Civil Engineering Department,
3rd Floor, Port House,
Shoorji Vallabhdas Marg,
Ballard Estate, Mumbai – 400 001.
 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port
1. Introduction:

1.1. Mumbai Port is second oldest Major Port in India after Kolkata. The Port
has completed 142 years of dedicated service to the Nation. For decades,
a Mumbai Port remains India’s Premier Port. Even today, in spite of
competition from private and minor ports, it caters about 11% of the total
sea borne trade handled by major ports of the country in terms of volume.

1.2. During the last two decades, the activities of port have been changed due
to constraints of the port and development of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust
(JNPT) across the Harbour. The container cargo has reduced drastically.
Now the MbPT is focusing more on oil bunkering, export of cars, steel
cargo, pulses, cement, etc.

1.3. MbPT has also diversified its activities towards cruise terminals, water
transport terminals, etc.

1.4. MbPT is planning to develop a township. The main objective of the

township, is to open up the Eastern Waterfront to the public by developing
tourism and recreational activities. Mumbai city is already lacking the open
space particularly in the city area. The % of open space per capita is
extremely low. The township intends to develop large parks as a
recreational tourism hub. MbPT is in the process of preparation of Master
Plan for the area.

1.5. As a part of the project, MbPT intends to develop approx. 120 Ha an area
of port water along the Haji Bunder as large garden which will not only
attract the National tourist but the International tourist also.
Fig . 1 - Location of Mumbai Port

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

2. Project:

2.1. Project is to develop a large recreational garden of International Standard

mostly for the passive recreation for the residents of Mumbai. The area of
the garden is approx. 120 Ha. Probably, this will be the largest garden of
the state.

2.2. As a part of township, the 7 km long waterfront near Haji and Hay Bunder
at Sewree is being planned as Recreation Tourism District with various
themes in the form of piers and streets such as
 Art and culture,
 Yoga and meditation,
 Maritime,
 Bollywood,
 Multi cuisine street,
 Maharashtra street etc.

2.3. A Central Park with an area of 40 Ha. has been planned incorporating the
above themes at the tip of Haji and Hay Bunder. The Central Park will
also house the ropeway station connecting Mumbai to Elephanta caves.
The project of ropeway is in advance stage and MbPT has already
prepared a feasibility report and also received Expression of Interest (EOI)
from six ropeway developers. The overall percentage of open space
within the township shall be more than 30%.

2.4. Need for larger Central Park:

However, it is felt that the area of 40 Ha for the Central Park is less
compare to the various parks developed at international level. The areas
of the most famous international parks are as follows:

 Central Park, New York, is 314.84 Ha.

 Hyde Park, London, 141 Ha.
 Chicago's Front Yard," Grant Park, 129 Ha.
 BOIS DE BOULOGNE, Paris, 850 Ha.

As against the largest park and grounds in Mumbai such as Oval Maidan,
Azad Maidan and Kamla Nehru Park do not have area more than 25
acres (10 Ha.)

It is, therefore, necessary to enhance the area of Central Park to about

160 Ha so as to have a garden and park at part with international level.

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

2.5. It is observed from the low tide and high tide levels near the Haji and Hay
Bunder that the low tide is away from the land by about 600 m. and hence
during the low tide, the water is not seen near the shore. This situation
creates an ugly scene which is not suitable for the Central Park tourism.

2.6. It is therefore, proposed to reclaim the land upto the low tide level along
the Haji and Hay Bunder so as to have water for all the times abutting to
the park. The park developed by way of reclamation will be only used for
passive recreation such as gardens, pathways without any construction. It
is also proposed to develop an artificial beach abutting the proposed
reclamation to enhance the tourism potential.

Fig.2 – Location map of the project

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

2.7. The project is proposed within the port water along the Haji Bunder at
Village Sewree. The project has excellent accessibility from rail, road and
public transport. The suburban station namely Cotton Green on Harbour
Railway line of Mumbai is about 1.6 km away from the site. The Eastern
Freeway is passing at about 1 km from the site. MbPT is also planning for
a Metro as a part of the township development. The Metro station will be
hardly 500 mtrs away from the project site. Feeder services of public
buses, taxies are already available.

3. Project components:

The garden will be mainly developed for passive recreation except few
pockets for Children Parks. The other likely components of the garden
would be
 Flowering and non-flowering theme based garden
 Integration of sea water
 Jogging parks,
 Botanical parks,
 Open jims
 Yoga and meditation,
 Traffic parks,
 Cultural hubs with open amphi-theatres, Art Plaza,
 Open art exhibitions,
 Butterfly park,
 Supporting facilities such as parking, wash rooms, souvenir shops
and food courts

4. Site suitability Analysis:

4.1. The Haji Bunder was used for barges which requires minimum depth of
the water. Presently, the water is seen only during the high tides. During
low tide, the water recedes upto 600 mtrs inside the port water, exposing
the soil cover.

4.2. MbPT intends to develop the Haji Bunder area as tourism and cultural
district. The site during the low tide is not aesthetically suitable for the
tourism activity.

4.3. The project is not coming within the tidal water flow of Mumbai Harbour
and it is expected that it will not have effect on any port activities.
However, a detailed study is proposed to be carried out through the
CWPRS, Khadakwasla.

4.4. Considering the excellent accessibility, available infrastructure, and

surrounding propose land use, the site is most suitable for a large garden
which is the present day need of the Mumbai Citizens.

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

4.5. The project is designed with a shape of polygon. It is also proposed to

have a sand beach at the edge of the project.

Fig. 3 – Site map of the project.

5. Reclamation:

5.1. The depth of the reclamation would be around 4.56 mtrs considering the
existing sea bed, 1 meter above Chart datum and level of the Haji Bunder
wharf. The total quantity would be around 5.58 million cu. m.

5.2. The JNPT is carrying out capital dredging of main channel of Mumbai Port
for developing a new berth from which 46 million co. of soil will be
dredged. This soil will be available for the above reclamation. The soil can
be transported across the shore with a lead of about 8 to 10 k.m.

5.3. This will reutilize the dredged material and save environment degradation.

5.4. MbPT will take all the care that the reclamation will not have any effect on
the navigation, environment and the working of MbPT, JNPT and
Mazagon Dock Ltd.

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

6. Employment:

Today, the tourism is the largest employment generating activity at the

global level. The proposed tourism activities planned in the adjoining area
namely, ropeway to Elephanta caves, various theme parks and streets,
museums, hotels, restaurants will attract National and International
tourists which will generate supporting employment for the local residents.
It is expected that on an average 25,000 tourists will visit every day which
will generate direct and indirect employment of 1.25 lakhs.

7. Environment:

7.1. A very small portion of the land is covered by mangroves. As far as

possible, MbPT intends to incorporate these mangroves as an element of
the garden development without damaging the same. In case the
mangroves are damaged, MbPT will ensure the development of new
mangroves at other suitable location through mangrove plantation.

7.2. No other threat to the environment is envisaged through the development

of the project.

8. Social Impact

Presently, there is no habitation on site. Further, the site is not being used
for any employment generating activity. The project therefore, will not
have any adverse social impact. On the other hand, due to generation of
the employment, the local resident’s economic level is expected to be
upgraded.

9. Pollution:

Project being a development of green garden will not pollute the environment
in the form of air, noise pollution. On the other hand, the project will enhance
the air and water quality.

10. Energy:

MbPT intends to utilize the recycled water generated from the sewerage
treatment plant being executed for their residential colonies for garden
purpose. Only, the drinking water will be obtained from the water supply
system of the local Municipal Corporation.

The quantum of electricity will be minimum considering the proposed

activities. However, the electricity will be mainly generated through the solar
power supply system.

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 Development of Garden along the Haji Bunder in Mumbai Port

The solid waste disposal will be based on zero discharge. The entire solid
waste will be segregated and treated separately.

No effluent will be discharged in the sea.

The other measures such as water conservation, feasibility of wind energy

will be explored with study.

11. Project cost:

The total project involves reclamation, bunding, hard and soft landscape,
garden furniture, infrastructure etc. The total cost would be approx. Rs.100
crores. The cost will be finalized after preparation of detailed design and
estimates.

12. Implementation schedule:

The reclamation work is expected to be completed within one and half year
and the garden will take one more year for the development.

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