Ahead of floating restaurant launch: Mumbai Port Trust tightens security guidelines for eatery and jetty operators

Mumbai’s west coast had three floatels — A B Celestial, Ark Deck Bar and Mumbai Maiden. Ark Deck Bar capsized off Bandra in May due to bad weather.

The two new floatels will use jetty 5, which belongs to the MbPT and is managed by the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, for the operations. Both floatels, set up on ships Queensline Sea-Yah and Queensline Neverland, would be stationed at Charlie 1 and Charlie 2 anchor points, about 2 km from the Gateway of India. Each eatery will be able to handle around 450 people at one time.

At a meeting with the operators of the restaurant — M/S Queensline — and the jetty service — Royal Bombay Yacht Club (RBYC) — in October, the MbPT discussed the guidelines.

M/S Queensline will install, operate and manage the pontoon embarkation dock at jetty 5 for Queensline’s guests and others who want to use the facility. There will be two security porta cabins (with screening apparatus) and reception tents at the jetty. While one of the cabins will be for the guests of Queensline, the other will be for the RBYC members.

A jetty supervisor will monitor the overall security and crowd management arrangements and report to the MbPT and also liaise with the local police.

Shripriya Dalmia Thalani, the owner of the restaurant service, said: “We have followed all the required guidelines set by the MbPT and the Mumbai Police. We would be installing two pontoons that are approved according to the guidelines set by the MbPT. Each will have enough capacity to ferry people.”

At the meeting, members of the RBYC had raised concerns over congestion at jetty 5 and claimed that the project would burden the infrastructure further. Asked about the development, Ashish Hemrajani, who is in the governing committee of the RBYC, only said: “It is an internal matter.”

Sanjay Bhatia, the chairman, MbPT, said: “The pontoons are already in place near jetty 5. This will help get easier access to the restaurants. To ensure jetty 5 is de-congested, we will be setting up the required facilities at the Domestic Cruise Terminal as well.”