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Mumbai's Suburbs To Get An Aquarium Too?

As the number of visitors in Taraporevala Aquarium is decreasing, the Tourist Department of BMC is planning to build a multi-level aquarium which will resemble world-class aquariums from Bangkok and Singapore in Mumbai's suburbs.

Mumbai's Suburbs To Get An Aquarium Too?
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Mumbai's Taraporevala Aquarium which is one of the oldest aquariums in the country was built in 1951. It is a major tourist attraction which houses over 400 species of marine animals in over 22,000 tanks. As the number of visitors was decreasing, it was renovated on March 3, 2015 wherein they installed a 12-feet long and 180-degree acrylic glass tunnel on the entrance. 

Also Read: BMC To Partner With Travel Agencies To Promote Tourism: Praveen Pardeshi

However, the number of visitors is still declining and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is planning to open up another aquarium in the suburbs. According to State Tourism Department, it would be very expensive to build an aquarium in South Mumbai and therefore they are planning to scout a 5-acre land in the suburbs. It will be a multi-level aquarium which will resemble world-class aquariums from Bangkok and Singapore. The plot is not finalised yet, as the department is awaiting a response from the collectorate and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the available land and its reservations.

Notably, during the review meeting for Taraporevala Aquarium, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray proposed to redevelop it as an oceanarium i.e. an open-to-sea facility in its basement, where one could see marine animals in the sea. However, the Tourism Department committee still has to prepare a concrete plan for the same. 

Also Read: Mumbai to become the cruise tourism capital of India?

In a bid to give impetus to Mumbai's tourism, the civic authorities are even renovating Byculla's Jijamata Udyan. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently inaugurated a walk-through aviary in Byculla's zoo. It will soon be opening its doors for 17 more exotic animals. The renovation work to house exotic animals was started in 2018 and is expected to be completed by March 2020 wherein there will be four jackals, a pair of leopard and a pair of hyenas.

There will be 17 viewing enclosures which will replicate the animal's habitat and there will be a special aquatic bird aviary which will be built to house 100 exotic birds. Out of the 17 viewing enclosures, 7 are complete. Two tigers will be procured from Aurangabad's zoo and some areas of Byculla's zoo will also be replicating Ranthambore National Park. The civic authorities are also planning to open a zoo and start a night safari at Aarey Forest. 

Also Read: Mumbai Zoo to bring new animals to boost tourism

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