City’s oldest dock set for a makeover

State approves ₹52 crore revamp for 140-year-old Sasoon Dock and the Ferry Wharf better known as Bhaucha Dhakka

Mumbai: The oldest dock in the country’s commercial capital is in for an elaborate makeover, with the State government approving a plan to modernise and develop the Sassoon Dock and the Ferry Wharf.

A high-power committee has been entrusted with monitoring the redevelopment and modernisation of the 140-year-old Sassoon Docks and the wharf that is also known as Bhaucha Dhakka, as per a decision taken on Monday.

Located at the tip of South Mumbai, the dock is home to a fish market overlooking the Oyster Rock, an island off the Mumbai harbour. The ₹52 crore makeover will include construction of a brand new fish auction hall, a radio room, rest rooms for fishermen, guest house and a close circuit television (CCTV) network.

“The role of the new four-member committee is to monitor the project progress for the two modernisation plans — Sassoon and Ferry Wharf — and at the same time, monitor the coordination between different agencies,” said Vijay Chaudhari, undersecretary in the Agriculture, Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department.

While the dock’s infrastructure, that can support just 10,000 tonnes of traffic in a year, is crumbling, for its upgrade plans to take off smoothly, the State has already secured requisite environmental and coastal regulation zone clearances from the Centre.

Monday’s decision comes in the backdrop of a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Shipping, Ports and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari where the two agreed on the urgent need to modernise the dock.

A project consultant appointed by The Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation Limited to carry out the project’s pre-feasibility study (MFDCL) has given a green signal too.

The feasibility report says that no sanctuary, national park or ecologically sensitive area is situated within a 10 km radius of Sassoon Dock. The new facility will cover a total area of 93,000 square meters and the entire work will be completed 13 months from the date of commencement, officials said.

“The existing infrastructure such as _ ancillary operations, transport of material _ is already available. The modernisation will be taking place within the docks itself,” noted the feasibility report.