Fishing, tourism, chemicals and petroleum get big boost at Mumbai airport – Times of India

MUMBAI: The freshness of the fish on your platter may get even better at a cheaper cost in a couple of years from now.
The mallet bunder, next to Ferry Wharf in MbPT will see a major jetty expansion at a cost of Rs 100 crore from the central government which will reduce the waiting, berthing time for the fishing vessels.
“Against a capacity of 300, over 1300 vessels come to the jetty. At a time presently 50 boats can be berthed which will become 150 after the expansion,”revealed MbPT officials. The port witnesses a turnover of Rs 1500 crore.every year.
As a result fisherman’s quality catch will get quickly offloaded which presently consumes a lot of ice for freezing on the boat itself ultimately affecting the quality as per market requirements.
If all goes well the MbPT has plans to start the construction work in October this year and complete in 18 months, officials said.
The project being the centre’s initiative under the prime minister’s scheme, the environment clearance is expected soon. “Soon after the tenders will be floated,”they added. The approach bridge to the fish jetty will be refurbished.
Also, a chemical berth costing Rs 161 crore to create additional offloading capacity of 2 million tonnes of chemicals, petroleum products and LPG will be built. To be completed by March 2024, 50% of the project cost is being funded by the central government.
It will reduce the logistical costs by around Rs 150 crore a year for the importers as presently they have to pay extra charges to shipping companies due to longer waiting periods and higher logistical cost. At the existing chemical berth, the present capacity is 4 million tonnes but occupancy is 78%. Thus saving on turnaround and logistical costs eventually may result in saving for consumers on their petroleum products such as LPG.