Mumbai: First-of-its-kind mangrove park in Gorai to open for public soon

It is the first day of spring as I make my way to Gorai jetty right next to Indiarsquos first ever mangrove park which is slated to open to the public in approximately two months Head architect of the project Devendra Bawdane meets me at the site office and we begin our hike Immediately the dense patch of mangrove marina offers respite from the blinding March sunWe set off on the wooden boardwalk that winds right through the mangroves with pausepoints along the way to rest and take in the sights and ending at a watchtower that offers a birdrsquos eye view of Gorai creek and the city beyond it ldquoMaharashtra is the only state with a dedicated Mangrove Cellrdquo Bawdane notes with prideThe high tide has created a shallow pool of water under the boardwalk and clusters of tiny fiddler crabs cling to tree trunks When the tide recedes the crabs will scurry into the mud flats ldquoThis is the kind of biodiversity we want visitors to seerdquo says Bawdane ldquoWithout the boardwalk people wouldnrsquot dare venture into the marshlandsrdquo Mumbai has over 50 sq km of mangroves the highest for any megacity in the world Mangroves absorb humidity from the atmosphere and trap four times the carbon dioxide that regular trees do These green soldiers resolutely guard the city against storms and floodsAlso Read Mumbai Cityrsquos first salon run by transgender persons opens at PrabhadeviMultiple pause points on the boardwalk allow you to take in the sights PicsNimesh DaveldquoMangroves have always been an important resource for locals but we only realised their value in 2005 when Mumbai was submerged 267rdquo says Bawdane ldquoUnfortunately people donrsquot know much about them They dump garbage and wastewater into the area because they think it is a wasteland infested with insects Some even believe that mangroves breed mosquitoes and spread illness We wanted to change this preconceptionrdquo he says about the collection of shrubs that grow in tropical tidal swamps with tangled roots that sprawl above the groundThe boardwalk is made entirely out of wood and other ecofriendly materials ldquoWe had permission to trim the branches but decided not tordquo Bawdane asserts ldquoThis 800 metrelong boardwalk was made without cutting a single treerdquo The branches grow unrestrained extending overhead creating a natural canopy We find ourselves ducking to manoeuvre around them I donrsquot mind thoughmdashitrsquos an exercise in mindfulness Therersquos something that looks like a combination of an anthill and beehive on a branch above me which is Irsquom told a pagoda ant nestAt the first pausepoint the boardwalk extends into the creek like a pier The water stretches out before me the afternoon sun making its surface glimmer In the distance a boat ferries a horde of excited passengers to Essel World The Global Vipassana Pagoda stands sentinel to my left Bulbuls and starlings provide a soundtrack to this stunning view Unsurprisingly I take many picturesA view of the Global Vipassana PagodaThe second arm of the boardwalk leads to the tall red watchtower that looms in the distance Bawdane tells me that people will soon be able to cut through the creek on a kayak and reach the upcoming mangrove park in DahisarAnother pausepoint faces into the mangroves its future plans include seating for an outdoor classroom Members of the local communities will be enlisted as guides and park rangers There will be plaques along the boardwalk bearing information about the flora and fauna The steps to the tower are still under construction but we look forward to climbing them soonA gem nestled within the park is the Nature Interpretation Centre This mangrove museum is an open structure with live exhibits right outside A library and conference hall are planned on the first floor to host activities and workshops for children on weekends On the second level a more traditional museum will hold information about mangroves and wastemanagement as well as an audiovisual room The building will be crowned by a cafeteria on the terraceDevendra Bawdane head architectAs a former lecturer at the Raheja College of Architecture Bawdane understands the importance of a holistic handson learning experience Examples of sustainability and accessibility grace every element of the projectmdash90 per cent of the energy in the park will be generated from solar panels On week ends the unutilised energy will go back to the grid to help power the city Gentle ramps in place of staircases make every part of the park accessible for wheelchairusers and the elderly a refreshing foresightBawdane and his teamrsquos clear objective is to make visitors fall in love with mangroves and nurture a sense of connection with nature ldquoThings wonrsquot transform overnightrdquo he says ldquobut if there is even a five per cent change it will have been worth it This is just the beginning of reversing the degradation we have caused to mangroves It is a first steprdquo