MMRDA gets proposals for a special entertainment zone that will be merged with Essel World, reports Smita Deshmukh
Mumbai's very own Disneyland may happen soon. The Maharashtra government's ambitious plans of turning the Manori-Gorai-Uttan into a recreation zone has received a leg up. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has received five proposals for the technical consultancy and investment plan for the area.
The project is a part of the state's 'Vision Mumbai' plan, under which the 12.8 km stretch is marked as a special entertainment zone to jumpstart investment and integrate it with the existing Essel World.
The firms in the race include ARCOP and Civil Engineering Services (both from Delhi), Fishman Prabhu (Mumbai), Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (Ahmedabad) and Kritzinor Plus Rao Associates (USA).
The consultants, who will be asked to submit a structural land use plan, have a tough task ahead as a large part of the allocated area comes under Coastal Regulation Zone (I, II and III) and has a substantial mangrove cover. Barring three village settlements of Manori, Culvem, Gorai and the Essel World entertainment park, the rest of the area is a 'No Development' zone.
"As per the MoEF guidelines, limited development is permissible. The area around Uttan is rich in columnar basalt rock, quarrying of which is banned due of its rare nature. The Manori creek is also polluted because of untreated liquid waste from the Charkop Industrial estate and sewerage from the Versova pumping station," a senior planning officer of the MMRDA told DNA.
Due to these restrictions, Maharashtra Tourism Development Authority's earlier invitation for proposals for tourism investment was not very successful.
But since that stretch of the beach is a favourite spot for those seeking locales for Bollywood films, TV serials and advertisement shoots, the government is eager to develop the area, and officials are stressing the need to upgrade transport facilities. Till date, old rickshaws and tongas largely do the job.
"Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's development plan proposes a bridge near Gorai jetty that will connect it to Borivali to reduce travel time. A bridge between Marve and Manori will similarly improve accessibility," explains the MMRDA official.
Though the state government has not offered any terms of reference, officials are looking to Sentosa (Singapore) and Genting (Malaysia) for inspiration. Fast connectivity will be the key focus.
CORRECTION
In the story 'Mickey and Donald may come to Gorai', it was stated that Mumbai will have its own Disneyland. This is incorrect. What the story implied was that the five consultants who had applied to the technical study and investment plan have been asked to study different amusement parks across the world like Sentosa, Genting and Disneyland and create an independent plan for an amusement park and entertainment zone in Gorai, in Mumbai.
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