Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari and BJP MP Hema Malini will inaugurate Mumbai Port Trust’s initiative the Ballard Estate Festival on January 24.

The commercial hub will finally open up for weekly festivals from January 23. The Mumbai Port Trust in coalition with Ferriswheel Entertainment will host the festival every weekend for the next three years barring the monsoon period.

The festival will be earmarked with five zones dedicated to different forms of experience with a huge food court, live entertainment arena, retail point, kids zone, silent zone and an open air theatre, said a spokesperson of Ferriswheel entertainment.

“The idea was to use Ballard Estate’s open spaces in a innovative and convenient way. Through this festival, locals, as well as tourists will get a whole new experience of entertainment. Also special care has been taken keeping factors like security and cleanliness in mind,” said Yashodhan Wanage, deputy chairman, Mumbai Port Trust.

The festival will be open for all events with a minimalist entrance charge. There will also be separate charge for the kids’ zone and for the open air theatre, added the spokesperson..

“The festival will surely imbibe the spirit of a street festival and incorporate more than 100 retail, food and beverage options, musical concerts, movie promotions, exhibitions, flea markets and contemporary art shows,” said Shubhadra Bharadwaj, founder and creative director of Ferriswheel entertainment.

“The venue could hold up to 4,000 people at a time, and there will be separate arrangement for parking area for the visitors. Security at the venue will be handled by the

Mumbai police in coalition with a private security organisation,” she added.