GADKARI-MBPT 2 LAST (BES44)

Apart from the land development plan, the port trust Apart from the land development plan, the port trustis also concentrating on improving amenities for hostingcruise ships and investing Rs 150 crore for a terminal, whichis to be built over the next two years, Bhatia said. One of the oldest ports in the country, it is not waitingfor the passenger terminal to be ready and will start hostingships from this season onwards, Bhatia said, adding that 59such passenger liners will be calling on the city soon. The first such ship will arrive in late October andthe port is reviving the ‘Ballard Estate Festival’ idea everyweekend coinciding with the docking of the first ship, whichwill have 4,000 passengers. Unlike the earlier experience, the port is discontinuingentry tickets for the festival, Bhatia let out, adding that itwill be held every weekend. The port trust is also constructing two jetties on thesea on the city’s much-visited western waterfront, off theiconic Marine Drive. These jetties, to be constructed over the next eightmonths to a year, will be used for adventure sports anddeveloping floating hotels. The port is completely revamping the Sasoon Dock inColaba, under which fish peeling will be shifted indoors,Bhatia said, claiming that it will be a modern fish market.PTI AA PSK BEN NSKARDRDS