Mumbai’s Gorai Mangrove Park expected to open on May 1

At the heart of the project is the Nature Conservation and Interpretation Centre, a 1,517 sq m facility adjacent to a dumping ground. This multi-tiered centre will serve as an educational hub, emphasising the importance of mangroves and their ecosystems. The structure has been expanded without cutting any mangrove trees.

Another key attraction of the park is a 700-m-long Wooden Boardwalk or Mangrove Trail, built without disturbing the existing mangroves. Additionally, a watch tower will offer panoramic views of the mangrove ecosystem. The park also incorporates sustainable features, including rooftop solar panels with a 120 kW capacity, which will meet over 80 per cent of the Nature Conservation and Interpretation Centre’s energy needs. A self-sustaining sewage system further enhances its eco-friendly approach.

Construction also includes a steel cantilevering structure with minimal use of concrete. The project, implemented by the Mangrove Cell of the Maharashtra forest department with a budget of Rs 23.63 crore, began in 2021. The park is expected to draw 400 visitors daily to the Centre and 500 to the Mangrove Trail once it becomes operational.