Iconic Taraporewala aquarium to make a comeback: Design of new building finalised

The seven-decade-old aquarium will get a revamp at an initial estimated cost of Rs 296 crore. The new building will be a six-storey structure with a built up area of over 20,000 square metre.

“This will be one of the biggest attractions in Mumbai for sure. A number of designs were submitted to us by an experienced international agency. We have finalised one of them and the work will begin soon,” said state’s Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane.

As per the plan, the proposed building will be built on a 4,393 square metre plot. It will include 12 levels of office or apartment space, an expansive new aquarium floor measuring 6,500 sq m, and a signature main tank that can hold 3.5 million litres of water.

The ground and mezzanine floors will feature aquatic exhibits, and the design includes a rooftop café, atrium, marine education zones, and a 140-vehicle car park, Rane said.

The Taraporewala aquarium was inaugurated in 1951 by then President Dr Rajendra Prasad and named after philanthropist D B Taraporewala.

It showcased over 400 species, including exotic marine and freshwater fish, and featured a 12-foot acrylic tunnel added during a 2015 renovation.

As part of the transition, more than 500 aquatic species were safely relocated to aquariums in Pune, Chandrapur, and Ahmedabad in 2023.

Rane said that the new aquarium is designed to be financially self-sustaining.

“We’re building not just a museum, but a marine institution that will draw global attention,” he said, adding that it will be one of Asia’s most advanced aquariums.