Mumbai’s famous Sea Rock Hotel’s landmark silhouette as well as its history was consigned to the past in 2009 when the structure was demolished after the opening of the Bandra-Worli sea link. Sixteen years and many litigations later, the site with a majestic view of the Arabian Sea will finally see construction work starting for Taj Bandstand, the fifth property of Indian Hotels Company in Mumbai’s commercial capital.
The original plan was to redevelop the area as an integrated property consisting of hotel rooms, a large convention centre and commercial operations. While not much details are available, Puneet Chhatwal, managing director of the Tata Group-controlled hospitality chain told Bloomberg TV that the company plans to invest at least Rs 2,500 crore to build the new hotel.
The entire project, he said, is expected to be completed by 2028 and IHCL has already received the most important state permission for starting construction this year: Chhatwal said the commencement certificate, the last permission, is awaited but is expected shortly. IHCL still needs approval from airport authorities for adding extra floors at Taj Lands End, which is located just opposite the iconic Sea Rock Hotel site.
The group already has Apart from the flagship Taj Mahal Palace, the group already has Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz and Taj The Trees. Together, the four hotels in Mumbai have an inventory of 1,550 rooms. These are among its 12 operating hotels in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which include the Ginger, SeleQtions and Vivanta brands.
IHCL had bought the Sea Rock hotel, the first five-star deluxe hotel in a suburban area, in 2009 for Rs 680 crore. Its original owners were the Luthria brothers, refugees from Karachi. Sea Rock opened in 1978 in collaboration with the Welcomegroup of the ITC chain. In the 1980s, it tied up with the prestigious Sheraton and was known as the Welcomegroup SeaRock Sheraton, and soon became one of Mumbai’s happening places.
On March 12, 1993, however, its destiny changed. In a serial bomb blast that ripped apart Mumbai, parts of the hotel were damaged. Talks about its renovation plans led to a 14-year-old legal battle between the Luthrias and ITC Welcomgroup. The dispute was finally settled out of court.
In 2005, Suresh Nanda of Claridges Hotels and Resorts bought the property for Rs 300 crore. Finally, the Taj Group, owned by the Tatas, entered the scene.
In April 2019, the Taj Group’s plans hit a hurdle with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) staying all clearances, saying it violated Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ). The matter has finally been resolved.
