MAHIM CREEK: To be clone of Sabarmati river front

Imagine! The Mahim creek as a replica of the Sabarmati river front where you will get a 360-degree view of the city skyline from a watch tower. A floating cafeteria and an underwater aquarium with exotic fishes will be the other fixings.

This tourist hub may not be a distant dream as the BMC has already rushed a team of five members to Gujarat to study the Sabarmati river promenade. The Mahim replica will cover a distance of 2.5 km and cost the civic body just Rs 15 crore.

The proposed project will involve development of the creek as part of measures to improve rivers and waterfronts. Apart from structural changes in the river and its banks, there will be a walkway, 50 eatery stalls, a watch tower, a floating cafeteria, a boating facility, an underwater aquarium and exhibition centres on the waterfront, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC Ramakant Biradkar said. The proposed exhibition centres, stalls and the floating cafeteria will be given on contract, so that the BMC can recover the money spent on the project within five years, he said.

A scenic project on Mumbai’s shore will, however, not be complete without a statue and the BMC plans to construct one in the middle of the creek. “Whose statue it would be, is a decision that would be taken by the political party (Shiv Sena) that controls the House,’’ Biradkar added. Currently, the creek has no such facility which can attract tourists.