Mumbai Port Trust building tourist jetty at Kanhoji Angre Island

Mumbai Port trust is constructing a passenger jetty at a cost of Rs16 crore at the Kanhoji Angre Island as part of the project for development of Kanhoji Angre Island as a tourist destination.

Union minister for shipping and road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari recently laid the foundation stone for construction of a passenger jetty at Kanhoji Angre Island in the presence of union minister for heavy industries and public enterprises Anant Geete and state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Kanhoji Angre light house was constructed on the island by the erstwhile Government of Bombay at an expenditure of Rs1.22 lakh in the year 1867. It was further upgraded in the year 1902-03 at an expenditure of Rs82,000 by Mumbai Port Trust. Since then the port was maintaining the light house till 2007.

In 2007, operation and maintenance of the light house was transferred to the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).

The port has also leased an area of 8,000 sq m on the island to Indian Coast Guard at a nominal rent of Re1 per annum to install a radar system for coastal surveillance.

Development of Kanhoji Angre Island as a tourist destination by Mumbai Port Trust in conjunction with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation is an attempt to boost tourism in the state.

The port has given "in principle" NOC to MTDC for undertaking works related to tourism promotion on the island.

The jetty being constructed by the port will facilitate smooth berthing of passenger boats and embarkation/ disembarkation of passengers at the island.