This is an update to our earlier article which spoke about the telecom giant Mr Gulu Lalvani foraying into the yachting sector of India. according to the latest update, Mr Gulu Lalvani is already started initiating talks with the Indian yachting industry players.
Infact he in contact with none other than Mr Malav Shroff (founder and organizer of the Mumbai International Boat Show) who is also lobbying with the Govt to bring about the marina concept in mumbai. “I will prefer having a partnership to foray in India market. I am talking to Malav Shroff,” he says.
Mr Lalvani has also expressed that he would like to construct something on the lines of RPH (Royal Phuket Marina). He is looking at investing $100 million in the India marina project. Mr Lalvani is also eyeing some other real estate developments in the country.
As stated in our earlier article, lalvani mainly has two concerns in India. 1. Red-Tapism, 2. Import duties. In the past Lalvani had a bad experience of red-tapism in India and till today considers it one the main concerns for venturing into the Indian market. Yacht import duties being 35% is also a concern for the yachting culture in India as in phuket there is 0% import duty for yachts where Mr Gulu has created his RPH (Royal Phuket Marina) a $250-million integrated residential marina project.
Related Article - Gulu Lalwani Eyeing the Indian Marina Industry!!
Jun 16, 2008
Gulu Lalvani In Talks With Malav shroff For Mumbai Marina
Fancy A Marina At The Gateway Anyone?
With the monsoons starting off with a bang.. any plan for a marina in the city is questionable. The Gateway to India is not even close to ready for opening up its gates to the ‘marina lifestyle’.. a much awaited trend and the next big thing to look out for in the city. 
There’s much more that goes into constructing a marina than just pontoons built for berthing and mooring yachts. A Marina is all about providing a complete infrastructure that facilitates a lifestyle of leisure and luxury.
Such a wide scaled sea front development demands calm water conditions, and other requisites like a clean environment, efficient security, entertainment and recreation and functional service centers for maintenance and management.
Imagine a marina facility right below the high-rise you live in.. Some of the best marinas of the world have allied luxurious activities attached within their infrastructure. These include a golf course, polo grounds, luxury charter service stations, telecommunications centres to record regattas and other events of the marina. A marina is ideally incomplete without the following:
• Berthing Facility For Up To 50 Vessels
• Fuel Stations
• Repair Stations
• Multi-Storey Club House Complex
• Swimming Pool
• Sports Bar And Jet Sking Facility
• Open Area For Boat Shows
• Food Courts, Restaurants,
• Shopping Malls
• Paved Road Ways
• Landscaped Garden
A marina is all about a culture and a lifestyle. So, if you are looking out for this trend to catch up in this city soon, HOLD YOUR HORSES FOLKS! There’s a lot of homework pending..
Mar 3, 2008
Mumbai Not Ideal For Parking Yachts - Not Possible
“Buy a boat in Mumbai and park it at Goa” that was the news that I came across in the recent economic times.
The article covered aspects on how the Gateway of India wasn’t the idle location for the marina and how Goa is a much better place to park the boat.
I do not dispute the fact that currently gateway isn’t the prime location for a marina… BUT what about the rest of Bombay. We all tend to forget that Bombay (Mumbai) is an island city and there is water on all sides. Why cant we see marina development on the other sides of Mumbai?
Mr Umaji V Chowgule, MD Goa Yacht Haven Pvt Ltd, which has proposed to build a 300-boat marina in Goa with an investment of Rs 100 crore was quoted "One can easily fly to Goa in the morning, sail throughout the day and reach Mumbai by the evening flight,"
I agree that a yacht owner who can afford a yacht can surely fly down to Goa… BUT.. would it make practical sense for anybody to do that? Why would i Fly to Goa get onto a yacht and then fly back to Mumbai.. Isn’t the whole concept of luxury and comfort diminished?
I am not trying to criticize the article I am just trying to portray that there will have to be a marina in Mumbai weather we like it or not. It is not possible for people to buy a yacht and park it elsewhere which would cause inconvenience to them. Mumbai will be a hub for yachts for quite some time as currently the money is here in Mumbai and so are the spenders.
Most of the yachts in India are owned by Mumbai residents, so asking them to move is not the solution. Also I would like to mention that although there is no proper breakwater facility at the Gateway of India and also that the water quality is not the most favorable but still there can be options created within Mumbai. One good example could be the MIBS that just went by, they had created a magnificent marina in no time at all which unfortunately they had to strip off the water.
If the govt and pvt companies come together I am sure that Mumbai too can have a yacht friendly marina facility.
Read more...
