Mumbai floating hotel off Nariman Point gets MCZMA clearance recommendation
A long-delayed proposal to develop India's first luxury offshore floating hotel has cleared a major hurdle after receiving a recommendation for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). Under the proposal, a seven-star floating hotel will be anchored two nautical miles off Nariman Point, while an eight-storey marina terminal will be constructed on reclaimed land at Cuffe Parade in Mumbai.
The MCZMA recommended the project, officially titled "Inland Water Transport Terminal – Development of Marina," to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for final clearance. The project is being developed by Rashmi Developments Pvt Ltd, led by Managing Director Raj Pradhan, and aims to boost maritime tourism, recreational boating, and water transport.
The project involves significant infrastructure development, including reclaiming around 2.17 lakh cubic metres of sea and conducting capital dredging of about 10.25 lakh cubic metres. The plans feature a 35,000-square-metre terminal building comprising two basement levels and six upper floors on reclaimed land within the CRZ-IV sea area.
The terminal building will house yacht club facilities, executive lounges, conference spaces, restaurants, retail outlets, an art gallery, a helipad, and seaplane and eVTOL facilities. It will also include luxury serviced apartments overlooking the Arabian Sea. Visitors will be able to access the offshore floating hotel from this terminal using speedboats, helicopters, or seaplanes.
During deliberations, MCZMA members questioned the legality of constructing a standalone building in CRZ-IV waters, where such construction is generally restricted. However, the project developers argued that the terminal is an integral part of the permissible marina project. The MCZMA ultimately concluded that the integrated project falls under the jurisdiction of the Union environment ministry and recommended it for final approval, subject to environmental safeguards.
The project has faced a long history of delays and legal challenges dating back to 1997, when Pradhan first proposed converting a grounded vessel off Carter Road into a floating hotel. That plan was shelved due to resident opposition in court. A subsequent 2017 proposal for a floating jetty was also rejected before being revived through courts and administrative transfers. Following a Swiss Challenge bidding process, Rashmi Developments was selected as the developer, receiving a Letter of Intent from the Maharashtra Maritime Board in July 2024 and approval for its Detailed Project Report in May 2026.
