The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revived its plan to establish a world-class aqua gallery at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla.
The project was initially proposed in 2022. It aimed to set up an international-grade aquarium at the Byculla Zoo. The proposed aquarium, spanning 600 square metres, was to be located near the penguin display. The project, which started in June 2022, was estimated to cost INR 44 crore.
Later, the project was put on hold when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) proposed a larger aquarium at the Worli Dairy Complex. This led to the municipal commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal, abandoning the original plan.
After the state government was changed, the original project has now been revived. The aquarium is now set to feature two acrylic walk-through tunnels and a dome-shaped entrance. One tunnel, measuring 36 metres, will house deep-sea aquatic species, while a 14 metre tunnel will be dedicated to coral fish.
The aquarium will also include stones and other sea-life features to create a natural environment. A pop-up window will allow children to observe the fish closely. The aquarium will house 46 different marine species in a variety of tanks, which includes four square, five circular and two semi-circular fish tanks. A unique aquatic life-saving system with a capacity of 10 lakh litres will ensure the quality of the water.
According to reports, the BMC plans to invite tenders for the project in the next month and a half. A gift shop selling apparel, toys, and literature about wild and aquatic animals is also planned to be set up outside the aquarium.
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