Mumbai: Despite facing numerous controversies for the past three years, the BMC has finally awarded the contract for its ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art aquarium at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo at Byculla.
BMC Revives Long-Delayed Aquarium Project at Byculla Zoo
Construction is scheduled to commence in September, in tandem with the planned expansion of the popular penguin exhibit. Both projects are slated for completion in 12 months. The project is estimated to cost Rs 65 crore, inclusive of all taxes.
In June 2022, the BMC announced plans to develop an international-standard aquarium at the Byculla Zoo. However, the project was later scrapped after then Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray unveiled a proposal for a mega aquarium at Worli.
Byculla Zoo To Get State-Of-The-Art Aquarium And Expanded Penguin Enclosure; Construction To Start September | Representational Image
After the state government change, the Worli project was shelved, prompting the BMC in February 2024 to revive its original aqua gallery plan at Zoo and expand the penguin enclosure to house 21 birds.
The proposal again came under scrutiny last year after Samajwadi Party MLA Raees Shaikh raised concerns over its transparency. Following multiple delays, the BMC has recently issued a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the contractor, and document verification is currently underway.
Aquarium to Feature Dome Entrance and Walk-Through Acrylic Tunnels
Work is expected to begin within a month, confirmed an official. The aquarium will feature a dome-shaped entrance and two acrylic walk-through tunnels—a 14-metre tunnel for coral fish and a 36-metre tunnel for deep ocean species.
"For a natural experience, it will include elements similar to sea life, such as stones. The pop-up window will allow kids to take a closer look at the fish. The aquarium will have four square, five circular and two semicircular fish tanks with 46 different marine species. To maintain the quality of water, a special aquatic life-saving system will be installed with a capacity of 10 lakhs litres," said an official.
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Penguin Enclosure Expansion to House Upto 40
Similarly, the BMC plans to expand the penguin enclosure at Byculla Zoo by 200 square metres, increasing its capacity to house up to 40 penguins. The current 2,000-square-metre enclosure is home to 21 penguins.
In October 2016, the zoo brought eight penguins—three males and five females—from Coex Aquarium in Seoul, one of which later died. Over the past nine years, 14 penguins have been born at the zoo.
