Maharashtra Plans Three Floating Hotels With Atal Setu Views

Maharashtra Maritime Board invites private operators to develop three floating hospitality facilities near Belapur jetty in Navi Mumbai, offering potential dining, accommodation and leisure experiences with views of Atal Setu and Panvel Creek.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) plans to introduce three floating hospitality facilities, or floatels, near the tourism jetty in Sector 15, Belapur, Navi Mumbai. The initiative aims to strengthen maritime tourism and create new waterfront leisure experiences, potentially allowing visitors to dine and stay on the water while enjoying views of Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge, and Panvel Creek. 

The state government agency has invited private operators to develop and manage the facilities at three locations near the newly developed Belapur tourism jetty. According to the tender, the proposed floatels may offer dining, accommodation, recreation, entertainment and other tourism-related services, subject to statutory approvals and maritime safety requirements.

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The floating establishments will operate from mooring or anchorage locations designated and approved by the MMB. Visitors will travel between the shore and the facilities using auxiliary boats, also known as tender boats. The Belapur tourism jetty will serve as the boarding and disembarking point for passengers and facilitate the transportation of supplies and equipment.

Under the proposed arrangement, the selected private operator will be responsible for financing, designing, developing, deploying and commissioning the floatel. The operator will also need to obtain the necessary permissions, comply with environmental and maritime safety regulations, manage passenger transfers and maintain the floating facility and associated infrastructure.

The tender further requires the operator to develop temporary facilities on land, including ticket counters, at its own cost, with the maritime board providing facilitation. Operations will remain subject to the board’s approval of the designated anchorage.

A floatel is a floating hotel or hospitality facility built on a vessel or platform. Depending on its design, it can provide accommodation, restaurants and entertainment services while remaining anchored or, in some cases, mobile.

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Mumbai has previously experimented with floating restaurants and hospitality ventures, with mixed outcomes. Some establishments have shut down amid operational challenges, the pandemic and infrastructure-related disruptions. The proposed Belapur initiative therefore presents an opportunity to develop a new waterfront tourism offering while highlighting the importance of operational viability and regulatory compliance.

The project forms part of Maharashtra’s broader efforts to encourage private investment in maritime tourism infrastructure. If implemented, the three floatels could diversify Navi Mumbai’s leisure offerings and create a distinctive hospitality destination around the city’s expanding waterfront.