Officials anticipate that the eight-hectare Gorai Mangrove Park in Gorai village will open on May 1. It was designated as a reserve forest and is expected to grow into one of Mumbai’s most important ecological and educational areas. The park will raise awareness of conservation while giving visitors a chance to enjoy nature.
Mumbai’s Latest Environmental Initiative Nears Completion
India’s First Mangrove Park.
The 800 meter long broad walk without any trees cut down, Nature Centre, museum, Bird Observatory at Gorai, MUMBAI. Architect: Devendra Bawdane. Promoter: Status: Near Completion. Completion: 2023. Total Investment: 27 crore plus.
📷: Nimesh Dave. pic.twitter.com/b7EHIJXcfu
— Haldilal (@haldilal) May 19, 2023
They intend to complete the work by the end of April, S V Ramarao, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangrove Protection Cell), told the Indian Express. If all goes according to plan, it could be inaugurated on May 1st, or by June 5th at the latest, with the approval of the Honourable Forest Minister. The approach road work may take a little longer, he noted.
The 1,517-square-metre Nature Conservation and Interpretation Centre, which is next to a landfill, is the focal point of the project. A hub for teaching, this multi-tiered facility will highlight the value of mangroves and their ecosystems. Without removing any mangrove trees, the structure has been enlarged.
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Key Attractions At The Mangrove Park
The park’s 700-metre Wooden Boardwalk or Mangrove Trail, which was constructed without uprooting the existing mangroves, is another major draw. A lookout tower will also provide sweeping views of the mangrove ecology.
Sustainable elements are also included in the park, such as 120 kW rooftop solar panels that will supply more than 80% of the energy requirements of the Nature Conservation and Interpretation Centre. Its environmentally friendly approach is further enhanced by a self-sustaining sewage system.
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A steel cantilevering structure that uses little concrete is also part of the construction. The project started in 2021 and was carried out by the Maharashtra Forest Department’s Mangrove Cell on a budget of ₹23.63 crore. After it opens, the park is anticipated to attract 400 visitors per day to the Centre and 500 to the Mangrove Trail.
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