Two-year delay, Rs 330 cr savings

BMC has been forced to change its plans after Heritage Committee objected to alteration of heritage structures inside the 148-year-old zoo; new plan will reduce project cost from Rs 480 cr to Rs 150 crore

Two-year delay, Rs 330 cr savings

THE nearly two-year delay in the revamp of the Byculla Zoo is not without its benefits.

Taxpayers and the state exchequer stand to save at least Rs 330 crore as the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) has objected to the alteration of some heritage structures inside the 148-year-old zoo, forcing the BMC to alter its plans.

"The planning and designing was complete, but the committee had raised concerns regarding the heritage structures and the botanical gardens and the work has been going on very slowly since then," a BMC official said on condition of anonymity.

He added that Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar wanted to complete the revamp within Rs 150 crore and had announced this in the budget.

Zoo Director Anil Anjankar said, "We are still awaiting the approval from the MHCC. Some changes will have to be made and the cost will surely reduce."

BMC Standing Committee Chairperson Rahul Shewale said, "We are trying to make some changes in the plan and it will be ready in a few days. We will not touch the heritage structures or the gardens, they will be intact. The changes will get the project cost down and we are trying to get it done within Rs 150 crore."

Shewale added that they will complete the revamp phase-wise and have many contractors working together so that the work gets done quickly.

"The animals will be brought in after completing the restoration and constructing the interpretation centre, 3D theatre and the new enclosures. We want the work to get done by the end of the year. The Mafatlal ground will be used to house the wild cats and cheetahs."

Dinesh Afzalpurkar, chairman of the MHCC, said, "We gave our remarks about the upgradation of the zoo two days ago and our main concern was that the green cover should not be disturbed.

There is no need to make the zoo a concrete jungle it is a garden and it should retain its flavour. The features of the new zoo should go hand in hand with the garden. The plan for the elevated pathway should be dropped but they can go ahead and modify the animal enclosures."

"The revised plan should first be submitted to the Central Zoo Authority and then to us. We have not given the BMC a green signal yet and will wait to get the new plan, which will also reduce the project's cost,"u00a0 he added.

Plan History
The modernisation of the 148-year-old Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, which houses a sprawling botanical garden and the Byculla Zoo, was initiated in 2009.

The masterplan was prepared by HKS Designers & Consultants International Co Ltd and US-based landscape designers, Portico Group. The revamp kicked off in August and the heritage committee had given its in-principle approval.

Citizens' groups, however, raised concerns over the shrinking green cover and the possible damage to the Renaissance-style layout and existing heritage structures. The MHCC then sought clarification from the civic body and is yet to give its final approval.

Flora and Fauna
The 53-acre compound of the Byculla Zoo currently has 3,213 trees belonging to 285 species. It has 208 animals including deer, reptiles, and six emus. The 400-strong bird fraternity in the zoo includes peacocks, black swans, pelicans, egrets, military macaus and Japanese storks.

Number Game

2009
The year in which the modernisation of Byculla Zoo was initiated

3,213
The number of trees belonging to 285 species inside the zoo

208
The number of animals including deer, reptiles, and six emus