The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to either make a lump-sum payment of Rs279.21 crore or shell out an annual rent of Rs35.59 crore for the next 30 years.
This is the charge for using airspace, water, open area, land and other facilities ‘under its jurisdiction’ during the construction of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
The development authority will begin construction of the Rs9,630-crore project, that will connect Sewri and Nhava, this year-end or early next year.
In November, MbPT wrote to the MMRDA showing calculations of how much it would have to pay for using airspace, water area, land and so on.
It has offered two options to the development authority – upfront payment or annual lease.
A sum of Rs89.46 crore has also been demanded as one-time security deposit.
This includes Rs20 crore for lease rent for 9.88 hectares which will be permanently occupied, Rs2.68 crore for piers on water (2.15 hectares), Rs34.91 crore for using 28.10 hectares of ‘sky space on land and water area, Rs28.5 crore for 13.7 hectares of open area of Sewri Timber Pond and Kerosene Wharf for casting yard and Rs2.9 crore for using 1.40 hectares of open area of Sewri Timber Pond.
“When I was with MbPT, the civic body needed the port land for pumping station. At that time the plot at Reay Road was given at a concessional rate because it was for public use. The same should be applied for MTHL,” said Rahul Asthana, former metropolitan commissioner who also headed the MbPT till March 2011.
MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar said: “Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Shipping and it has agreed in-principle to give a concession. Land acquisition act may also be modified for the MTHL project.”
Despite repeated attempts, Rajeev Gupta, chairman of MbPT was unavailable for comments.
