The BMC's pursuit of establishing a bird park in the city is not a novel endeavour. The initial proposal surfaced in 2013, envisioning a project with an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore. The plan earmarked a 25-acre plot in Powai to accommodate a diverse population of birds and reptiles. Despite appointing a project consultant to craft the master plan, persistent delays culminated in the project's eventual cancellation. A similar fate befell a subsequent proposal in 2019. Currently, the Byculla zoo stands as a testament to avian habitats, featuring an 18,234 sq ft aviary towering at 44 feet and housing 222 birds spanning 16 distinct species.
The municipal body aims to relocate birds from Byculla zoo and introduce a broader array of exotic species in the dedicated space at Nahur. However, the November tender for this initiative attracted only a single bid.
The upcoming Nahur aviary is poised to function as an extension of the current facility at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla. This extension is set to offer an added attraction for both residents and tourists in the eastern suburbs.
Since 2010, the Mumbai civic body has been in the process of envisioning and planning the establishment of an aviary. Initially proposed for Powai, the project faced a setback and was put on hold due to space constraints.
The BMC’s plan to acquire additional birds was recently approved by the Central zoo Authority (CZA).
After receiving only one bidder to set up an aviary (bird enclosure) at Nahur, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has again issued a tender for a project management consultant. The civic body wants to set up an aviary which would be an extension to the Byculla zoo. The BMC initiated the project to develop an aviary in the eastern suburbs, far from the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo at Byculla.
It floated a tender in November to set up the aviary in Nahur on a plot measuring 6,381 square metres and provided a month for responses. "We received only one response. To get better responses, we have floated the tender again. The BMC will give us a plan for the construction and management of the aviary. Accordingly, the cost and other things will shape up," said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the zoo.
If all goes according to plan, the BMC will receive a plan within the next three to four months. The plans then need to be approved by the Central Zoo Authority. The project will start thereafter.
“The first tender was floated in November; however, we could only get one response from a bidder therefore we decided to float the tender again so that we can get a few more responses which will help us place the work order at a competitive rate,” an official told The Indian Express.
The Nahur facility will be constructed on a land parcel that spreads across 6,381 square metres. This plot is currently reserved for an open space under BMC’s Development Plan rules. This will be an independent unit that will serve educational purposes of students, researchers alongside wildlife and bird enthusiasts.
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