10 years after terror attacks, Mumbai waits for boat parties

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 26

Ten years after the 26/11 terror attacks, there are no signs of the city's famous boat parties resuming.

Mumbaikars who boarded ferry boats and jazzed up fishing trawlers for an evening of merry making during the year-end holiday season have been left disappointed as the police and Coast Guard regularly refuse permission for these parties citing security reasons.

The boats which took off from the Gateway of India coasted past the naval establishments and several small islands till the wee hours letting party animals enjoy the sea breeze along with drinks and dancing.

"Every year we apply for permission to organise parties on our boats. But these are denied on security grounds," says Raju Tandel, a fishing boat owner from Colaba in South Mumbai. Till the ban was enforced in the wake of the terror attacks, owners of fishing boats earned a pretty penny renting out their boats to party goers. "We used to do up our best boats with a coat of paint and seating arrangements just after Diwali," says Tandel.

Police officials say the security establishment has been concerned about terrorists taking advantage of the increased movement of fishing boats packed with revellers.

“People are already inquiring about holding parties on board boats this year, but a decision will be taken only sometime next month," an official from the Mumbai police said. He added that even owners of private yachts have been banned from holding on board parties over the past years.

Despite the ban on boat parties over the past few years, the authorities have allowed floating restaurants to operate off the Gateway of India.

Two floating restaurants complete with bars, banquet halls and open decks began operations from earlier this month.

The two restaurants, Queensline Sea Yah and Queensline Neverland, were inaugurated by Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari. A third floatel is due to begin operations off Girgaum Chowpatty. All the three vessels will have a capacity of 475 passengers each, according to officials.