Boat owners at the Gateway of India are upset that while the govt imposes restrictions on them, it has allowed a cultural programme to be held there
Boat owners at the Gateway of India are upset that while the govt imposes restrictions on them, it has allowed a cultural programme to be held there
Planning a quick getaway to Alibaug on a boat from the Gateway of India? Do it before January 27. Boat owners at the Gateway of India are planning to discontinue boat rides to Alibaug and Elephanta from January 27. With security agencies tightening the noose on boat owners after the 26/11 terror attacks, their business has taken a beating.u00a0u00a0
Boat owners are disgruntled with government authorities. While one of the three jetties was forced to shutdown after the terror attacks and yacht parties at the Gateway have been banned citing security concerns, the Maharashtra government has given a go ahead to Zee TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa to host their grand finale there on January 24. The finale is a part of the Maharashtra government's seven cultural festival, Saptarang.
I Y Mukadam, general secretary, Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit confirmed that they will discontinue boat rides if their demands are not met. "We were told that the Gateway is a sensitive place and hence only a few jetties were kept open. How can they allow the show to take place at this venue," asked Mukadam.
"We are going to wait till January 26. If the government does not fulfil our demands, we will not sail our boats. If the grand finale of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa can be held at the Gateway late in the evening, why have they but a ban on boat parties," added Mukadam.
According to Vishwas Nagre Patil, DCP-Zone I, permission was granted to Saptrang organisers to host the function after they ensured that they will take stringent security measures. "From deploying 250 guards to installing CCTV cameras, the organisers are taking care that there will be no security threat," he said. "We have no grudges against boat owners. If they comply with the dos and don'ts that we have issued, we will give them the permission to open the jetties," added Patil.u00a0
u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Jetty no 4, opposite the Gateway of India, was shut down after 26/11 as terrorists entered the city via sea. Two other jetties are operational, but this leads to a lot of congestion and inconvenience, complain boat owners. What's worse is that boats can operate only till 6 pm.u00a0
Demands of the boat owners
Demands of boat owners:u00a0
- All the access points (jetties) should be kept open
- The Colaba police should make installation of CCTVs compulsoryu00a0u00a0
- Barricades to be removed form the road that denies direct access to the Gateway of Indiau00a0
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
