Govt signed Rs 500 Cr MoU to set up World Class Zoo in Mumbai

The Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMU) to set up a world-class zoo is estimated to a cost around Rs 500 crore at Aarey Milk Colony area in Goregaon, Mumbai.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Forest and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will be the controlling authority for the proposed zoo. As per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority, the BMC will acquire necessary permissions for procurement of animals.

According to the plan, the proposed zoo will not only have a conservation and protection centre for rare animals but also have night safaris to attract tourists. Approximately, the government land 100 acres out of the 190 acres at Aarey Milk Colony will be used to develop the zoo.

Maharashtra Forest and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, "People fly down to Mumbai but don't spend much time here. They fly out to Goa, Bangalore and other places. But if such world-class facilities are created then the tourists are bound to stay longer and that will be beneficial for all. The project will create many job opportunities as well".