MUMBAI: The state govt has cut down its grand plans of a 16 storey high-rise to house the Transport Department’s head quarters due to height restrictions imposed by the Navy.Instead, the state govt has approved Rs 67 crore for the construction of the new Transport Commissioner’s Office (Parivahan Bhavan) which will be a four storey building with a 2-floor basement on Worli’s Sir Pochkhanwala Road. The Transport Commissioner’s office is currently housed in a rented space in the MTNL Building in Fort.In 2025, CM Devendra Fadnavis had performed the ground-breaking ceremony for ‘Parivahan Bhavan’ which will be the first dedicated headquarters for the transport department, which has been operating from rented premises for 85 years.The state govt had picked a plot in Worli for the Transport Commissioner’s office and administrative approval was given for the construction of a 16 storey building at a cost of Rs 179 crore in 2022. However, as per the 2011 guidelines of the Ministry of Defence, the Western Naval Command objected to the height of the building on security grounds and refused approval for construction, officials said. The new building will be constructed by the state Public Works Department (PWD).“As per the guidelines, a four-storey construction can be constructed on the proposed site. Accordingly, the Transport Commissioner submitted revised plans and estimates in 2025. A meeting of the High Level Committee of Secretaries was held in June this year led by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal for giving approval to construction of govt buildings.Considering the monsoon season and the distance of the plot from the sea, the revised cost of construction was estimated to be around Rs. 67.83 crore. So the previous administrative and financial approval was canceled and fresh administrative/financial approval was given,” an Govt Resolution (GR) stated.In 2022, the Rs 179-crore project had got its approval from the state govt, which even issued a GR for the construction work to commence. Officials said Rs 50 crore was already earmarked for the project for 2022-23 and work was expected to start but height restrictions from the Navy had stalled the project.“Performed Bhoomi Pujan of the Transport Commissioner Office, ‘Parivahan Bhavan,’ in Worli, Mumbai, marking a new milestone in enhancing Transport Dept infrastructure. The department contributes significantly to the state’s progress through modern technology, effective implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act, and public welfare initiatives,” CM Fadnavis had said in a post on X after performing the ground breaking ceremony.
