Mahim beach to soon get a new sea face with open gym and watch tower

State Tourism, Environment and Climate Change and Protocol Minister Aaditya Thackeray, on Monday, January 18, 2021, conducted an on-site survey of the Mahim beach restoration project, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park renovation, Dadar Tilak bridge traffic management and Veer Kotwal garden renovation projects. He also discussed the progress on these works with the officials concerned. Aaditya Thackeray also serves as the Guardian Minister for the Mumbai Suburban District

He began the site visit from the Mahim beach, where a beach restoration project to create a 2,460 square meter new sea face and beach is underway. Earlier, a tree plantation campaign had also been launched whereby more than 1,000 large trees and 2,200 small shrubs have been planted. This will ensure that tourists and visitors will be able to experience a green beach. 

The sea face being created near the beach will also have an open gym for people to exercise. Similarly, a watch tower for tourists is being built at the site in a unique initiative. 

This morning I visited Mahim retibunder to check on the progress of our beach restoration drive.
I also discussed with DMC Ballamwar ji and AC @DighavkarKiran ji about our plan to have a 🚴‍♀️ track from Mahim Fort to Bandra Fort.
A watch tower for tourists is near complete. pic.twitter.com/9OikSvURmO

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 18, 2021

On this occasion, the Guardian Minister Aaditya Thackeray also discussed with Deputy Municipal Commissioner Vijay Balamwar and Assistant Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar about the plans for a 5-km long cycle track from Mahim Fort to the Bandra Fort. The officials said that the practical aspects of the project are being considered. 

Later, he visited the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj park. He began this leg of the tour by paying his respects and tributes at the smrutisthal (memorial) of his grandfather, Hinduhridaysamrat Shiv Sena Pramukh Shri Balasaheb Thackeray. This park has a rich tradition linked to sports, culture, and politics. Shri Thackeray wants to develop the park while keeping this heritage value intact. 

A large number of people come to the ground in the morning and evening for walking and running. However, there is severe dust pollution due to other games and sports being played there. He had a discussion with the officials about measures that can be taken to control the proliferation of this dust. Similarly, he also asked for the feasibility of this huge ground to be used for rainwater harvesting and water storage considering the needs of the coming decade. 

The park also has a 100-year old pyau or drinking water fountain in the precinct. Aaditya Thackeray asked the officials to take the necessary measures to ensure that this pyau was repaired and rejuvenated for bringing it into use again.

On the occasion, he saw the QR-code based new direction boards. While these direction boards will guide people, the embedded QR codes will inform them about the history and information about these roads and their names. Further, he also had discussions with the officials concerned about the proposed Mahim Causeway to Siddhivinayak Temple cultural pathway. 

Subsequently, the minister surveyed work at the Tilak Bridge and the Veer Kotwal garden. At the Tilak Bridge spot visit, he held a discussion with the local corporator and officials about enhancing traffic management to ease the flow of vehicles. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is also working on a long-term plan for this. 

He also discussed the progress of the work on the beautified walking track in the Veer Kotwal garden. Corporator Preeti Patankar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Vijay Balamwar, Assistant Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar were among those present during the Tilak Bridge and Veer Kotwal garden leg of the visit.