The BMC has scrapped plans for an aquarium at Byculla Zoo

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has cancelled the project to build a world-class aquarium at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla (BMC). Civic officials confirmed that the tender process, which began last week, has now been cancelled.

 

On June 11, the BMC announced plans to build an international standard aquarium at the zoo. The project was estimated to cost around Rs 44 crore. According to the plan, the aquarium would have taken up about 600 square metres of space near the penguin exhibit. The project's tender process had begun; however, the BMC administration cancelled the project on Friday. "The aquarium project at the Byculla zoo has been cancelled," said Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, "because a larger project of a world-class aquarium is coming up at the Worli Dairy."

 

Previously, the BMC scrapped controversial tenders worth Rs 291 crore for the construction of new animal enclosures at the zoo in May, citing allegations of cartelisation and cost escalation. "When Worli Dairy is already undertaking an aquarium project, why spend crores of rupees on a similar project?" "It's good that the BMC realised their mistake and thus saved taxpayers' money," Ravi Raja, former BMC opposition leader, said.

 

The state government is constructing an international tourism complex and a world-class aquarium at Worli. The project, which will span 14.55 acres at the Worli Dairy complex off the Worli Seaface, is expected to cost Rs 1,000 crore and will be the first of its kind in India. The project's deadline is December 2023. According to civic officials, the BMC will also be a part of this project.

Meanwhile, with the reopening of city schools, attendance at the Byculla Zoo has decreased. In May, the zoo received over 4 lakh visitors and earned around Rs 1.50 crore in revenue. On weekends, it attracts approximately 30,000 visitors. However, 9,985 people visited the zoo on Saturday, while 15,505 people visited it on Sunday.