11 August,2015 07:35 AM IST | | Tanvi Deshpande
The proposed marine aquarium at Worli, which will house several exotic fish species, could feature the city’s first indoor scuba diving facility and performances by dolphins
After Delhi, Mumbai might soon have its very own indoor scuba diving facility in the sea aquarium proposed at Worli by the state government. Apart from diving activities, the new facility might also feature dolphin shows.
A file picture of NCC cadets learning scuba diving at the Navy Nagar swimming pool. The Worli sea aquarium will be the city's first indoor scuba diving facility
According to a senior official from the state Fisheries department, "This will be the first such scuba diving facility in the city. Besides, there might be recreational activities involving dolphins. The upper floors will have an advanced aquarium with marine species from all over the world."
While the Taraporewala Aquarium at Charni Road was re-inaugurated in March this year, the proposal for the marine aquarium was floated in 2012. The Fisheries department was to acquire the 7-acre plot belonging to the loss-making Worli Dairy.
A letter to this effect was written by the collector to then additional chief secretary on September 12, 2012, with similar letters following in January 2013. A meeting was convened by the then chief secretary in the same year, when a company called Munifra was shortlisted for the project. But there has been no development in the matter since.
The entire cost of the sea aquarium is estimated to be R150 crore, since international experts will have to be roped in to construct and maintain it. The scuba diving facility is to be constructed at the basement, while other amenities are to be constructed on the upper floors, including a larger aquarium housing exotic fish varieties.
