Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 12: India’s first dedicated mangrove park, developed at Gorai in Mumbai’s western suburbs, is set to be named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of its expected public opening later this month.
The decision comes amid the BJP-led administration’s broader push to name public spaces and institutions after prominent leaders associated with the party and the wider Sangh Parivar following its victory in the recent civic elections.
The proposal to name the mangrove park after Vajpayee was made by BJP leader and Borivali MLA Sanjay Upadhaye.
“I had proposed the name to the state government, after which the Mangrove Cell approved it,” Upadhaye said.
The sprawling eight-hectare eco-tourism project has been developed in Gorai village at a cost of Rs 33.43 crore. Construction work on the park began in 2021 under the supervision of the Mangrove Cell and the forest department.
Officials said the inauguration, which has been delayed multiple times since 2023, is now likely to take place later this month as finishing works are nearing completion.
“At present, polishing, painting, lighting installation and other ancillary works are in the final stages. Once completed, the park will be opened to the public,” a forest department official said.
One of the park’s key attractions is a 750-metre-long elevated wooden boardwalk built through the mangrove ecosystem without disturbing the natural habitat. The walkway leads to a viewing deck offering panoramic views of the surrounding creek and mangrove forests.
The park will also feature an 18-metre bird-watching tower for visitors to observe migratory and local bird species inhabiting the coastal ecosystem.
A two-storey Nature Interpretation Centre has also been constructed within the premises to educate visitors about mangroves, biodiversity and coastal conservation through exhibits, books, informative displays and interactive panels.
The centre will additionally house a rooftop restaurant and a nature-themed gift shop.
Officials said eco-friendly materials, solar energy systems and elevated pathways have been incorporated into the project to minimise ecological impact on the fragile mangrove ecosystem.
The state government is also considering introducing an entry fee for visitors, with authorities proposing ticket prices between Rs 50 and Rs 100. Revenue generated from ticket sales is expected to be utilised for maintenance and upkeep of the park.
Interestingly, another public space named Atal Smruti Udyan, developed on a former dumping ground by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 2020, is located a few kilometres away from the upcoming mangrove park.
The Gorai mangrove park is expected to emerge as a major eco-tourism and environmental awareness destination in Mumbai once opened to the public.