Automated Translation:
The ‘maach’ lie deserted

A ‘maach’ is an open space at a height for drying fish. There were hundreds of such tent like ‘maach’ owned by the fishing community in Vesave Harbour. With the passage of time, the nets have started to disappear due to the decline in fishing activities. Many landlords sold their lands to builders. Therefore, many small buildings and bungalows have now stood in place of the ‘maach’.

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A crowded jetty : Madh

The largely neglected Madh-Manori-Erangal villages at one end were connected to the city by boat service from 'Madh Jetty'. The ferry service from this jetty to Versova helps hundreds of passengers to reach Andheri every day. So, ferry boats are the main support to reach the Madh belt. Otherwise, it takes at least one and a half to two hours to reach both these places by bus or local route. However, this jetty is in a dilapidated condition and its modernization is being neglected by the State Government and Maritime Board.

For the past 50 years, Andheri East has been connected to Versova and Madh Jetty by ferry boat service. At this place, a ferry boat is operated by the organization ‘Vesave Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd.' . This society has about three thousand members. Four big boats are used by the organization for this purpose. For this, a fare of Rs.3 is charged from each passenger. This service can reach Andheri or Madh in just two to five minutes.

Mahendra Lagde, president of the organization, says that the ferry service is open from 5 am to midnight. The service is provided even in the rains, but it is cancelled in case of heavy rains and gusty winds. The capacity of one boat is around 65 passengers and skilled crews are appointed to run the boat.

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Oars were used earlier

Locals say that before the advent of diesel powered mechanized boats, the boats were operated by oars, at which time a fare of 2 to 5 paise was charged.

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25 paise of the tickets to Govt

25 percent of the fare charged to each passenger goes to the government as revenue. From this, at least Rs. 90,000 are deposited to the government every month.

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Neglect by the Maritime Board

The job of the Maritime Board is to build a good jetty and provide modern facilities at this place. But no plan is made by the Maritime board. That is why new schemes have not been implemented in the last several years.

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Bhaucha Dhakka

Bhaucha Dhakka is named after Laxmanbhau Ajinkya, a Marathi contractor who built it. Bhaucha Dhakka is a witness of Mumbai's historical sea transport, but today it lies completely neglected. At present, although the atmosphere there is gloomy due to rain, on other days too, no one pays attention to the passenger traffic and the facilities here.

Kasara port, the center of fishing operations before Bhaucha Dhakka, was almost closed due to the closure of fishing due to monsoons, that is, the road leading to the jetty from Carnac Bunder was still jammed with queues of trucks and trailers at the docks. Apart from this, the number of cars coming and going from the freeway has increased. After crossing this traffic jam, it is difficult for the passengers to reach their designated launch. There is always another drawback of port congestion.

There is perennial water traffic from the Dhakka to Mora (Uran) port. Ferrying of salarymen from Uran to Mumbai continues till 10 pm. Whereas the launches at Rewas (Alibaug) barely run in the remaining months except the monsoons. Since the start of the punctual service from Gateway of India to Mandwa, the services of Rewas have gone downhill in the last ten years. Three jetties are currently in use at Bhaucha Dhakka. To the east there was a floating jetty, which moved up and down with the tides. A few years ago it was demolished and now a simple jetty has been built here instead.

Bhaucha Dhakka otherwise is a safe harbor. That’s why Gharapuri's launches are brought to Bhaucha Dhakka if sudden winds are encountered while taking them to the Gateway. But Bhaucha Dhakka has no special facilities. Also passengers complain that sediment in the water in front of it is not removed on time. The shed over it is old. If any sudden medical calamity occurs on the jetty, it will be exhausting until one manages to reach the main road.When it increases, one by one, bribes are standing here, not the narrator's par- 'Passengers have to reach the jetty by passing four launches. It's nerve-wracking to step into a moving launch along a narrow path with luggage. Number one nudge in the direction of th ... complex to release bribes to the launchers clock wise ...

Like Bhaucha Dhakka, Gateway jetty also comes under the jurisdiction of Mumbai Port Trust. But the control of all the launches going on here comes to the Maharashtra Maritime Board. The plan to set up a passenger water terminal by erecting pontoons i.e. floating jetties in front of the gateway was compromised by the state government two years ago in the budget. A provision of five crore rupees was made for it. Till date this plan has not materialized.

Despite being a passenger water terminal, there is no waiting lounge or simple booths for passengers. For the elderly, going up and down stairs is akin to having one’s bones broken.

The number of private speedboats is increasing day by day. For them, Jetty No. 5 in front of the Bombay Presidency Radio Club has been allocated. There are no clear rules on how exactly these boats are regulated and how many boats are allowed to carry passengers for hire.

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Authorities responsible for repair of boats

The repair and maintenance work of these boats is done by the authorities itself. Not only this, they also take on the responsibility of sludge removal. In that case, the Government and Maritime Board is emphasizing on reforms.

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Stones and boulders rule the roost: Dadar Chowpatty

The Dadar Chowpatty coast, once known as the pride of Mumbai, is no longer a coastline. The once-glittering golden and silver sands have been long destroyed. Only stones and giant tetrapods now make up the coastline. The only sandy beach that remains is from Chaityabhoomi to Kirti College and beyond Prabhadevi's beach. The stretch from Chaityabhoomi to the coast of Mahim is completely dry. From this area, the sea water comes to the road. A protective wall of stones is now being built to stop these gigantic waves. The waves crash every year. Around 2010, giant rocks (boulders) began to be placed in the Chaityabhoomi area to protect the shoreline from the waves. Fearing that the Chowpatty would be destroyed, the bouldering work was halted. But the government put in stones to protect Chaityabhoomi. Now the work of building a stone wall from Chaityabhoomi directly to Mahim is going on. During this year's rains, the water level of the sea rose so much that the waves rushed directly across the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Marg. Earlier there was a water line from Sharada Sadan adjacent to Chowpatty to Mahim's Samudra Tarang Society. Now that the water has reached the main road, one can imagine what could happen in Dadar in the future. A concrete protective wall has been constructed from the Mahatma Gandhi swimming pool to the Mayor's bungalow in the past few months. Like Nariman Point or Worli Sea Face, there are plans to build a walkway on it. There is an attempt to create a new tourist spot by installing attractive lights and chairs to sit on this walk-way. Efforts are also being made to take the help of private companies for this._____

Saving Chowpatty...

Local MLA Nitin Sardesai reports that via the 13th Financial Commission, the Maharashtra Maritime Board has so far given Rs. 3 crore 63 lakh to an organisation CWPRS to build a 500m sunprotection barrier from Kirti College to Dadar Chaityabhoomi, and a 500m wall from Chaityabhoomi to Hinduja Hospital at Mahim. This project will be implemented in three phases till 2017. 827 crores will be spent on the entire project. The Asian Development Bank will provide financial support for the conservation and beautification of the Chowpatty shore._____

Photos : Shailesh Jadhav, Rajesh Churi and Raju BandekarLayout : Swara Patole.