August 30, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to develop a state-of-the-art aviary in Mulund, the city’s first major bird park in over a century. The facility will showcase exotic and endangered species from across the globe in enclosures replicating their natural habitats.
Spread across a 17,958-square-metre plot in Nahur village, the park will cost an estimated Rs 166 crore and is expected to be completed within two years, according to a tender issued on August 28. Once operational, it will house 206 birds from 18 species, supported by an in-house hospital, a quarantine centre, and interactive awareness programmes.
“This will be Mumbai’s first bird park in independent India,” said Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha, who pushed the project forward. “The British had set up the city’s first zoo over 100 years ago. Now, residents of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane will benefit from a world-class facility in the suburbs.”
The project gained momentum after Kotecha sought the intervention of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, leading to a change in the land’s status from recreation ground to zoo. Officials said design elements would draw inspiration from Singapore’s renowned Jurong Bird Park, with whom the BMC is exploring collaboration.
The planned aviary will feature distinct Asian, African, Australian and American zones. Species such as the Red-Breasted Parakeet, White Peacock, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Black Swan, Scarlet Macaw and Ostrich are likely to be included. According to officials, the revised cost—double the initial estimate of Rs 80 crore—factors in long-term operations, including veterinary care, nutrition, and expert curators, as well as visitor amenities such as parking.
“The facility will not only reduce footfall pressure on Byculla Zoo but also provide a suburban attraction where birds can thrive in near-natural conditions,” a senior official said.
Source: Hindustan Times
