Sail right in: Port opens doors to visitors

Mumbai owes its megacity status to its port; there's even a theory that its name draws from 'Bom Bahia' or "beautiful bay." Yet, this hallmark in the city's history has been out of bounds to its people.

- Sabah Virani

MUMBAI: Security concerns and stringent regulations mean that all but a very few are barred. But the winds of change are blowing at last.

From Saturday to Friday, The Heritage Project, in collaboration with the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), will take around 1,500 people, in batches, on a tour of the port. Here, visitors will view the vast expanse where ships not only dock but undergo various phases of their lifecycle, getting a glimpse into an institution that has shaped the maritime and trade landscape of the city and the country, at large.