BMC floats tender again to appoint consultant for proposed aviary

“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.

Once this new aviary comes to shape, a few exotic birds from the Byculla zoo will be shifted here while additional species of birds will be procured by the zoo under various exchange programmes.

The BMC’s plan to acquire additional birds was recently approved by the Central zoo Authority (CZA).

The BMC has been planning to set up an independent aviary since 2010, however the plan didn’t get to see the light of day. Before this plan, civic authorities were eyeing setting up an aviary in Powai, however that project was withheld due to space constraints.

Civic officials said that once the consultant is appointed, it will take three months for the layout plan to be ready, following which it will again be sent to CZA for a final approval. After the CZA gives its nod, tenders for constructing the facility will be floated.

“If things go according to plan, the aviary could be ready for visitors within next three years. The consultant will also determine the climate and help us understand what kind of exotic birds could be brought in. After the DPR gets ready, we will start getting birds through exchange programmes,” the official added.

At present there is an aviary in the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Byculla Zoo), which houses 222 birds of 16 different species.