An oceanarium is being developed in Alibag, around 100 km from Mumbai, even as plans to renovate the city’s historic Taraporewala Aquarium remain uncertain. The project, being undertaken by the Alibag Municipal Council, is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and subsequently opened to visitors. It is anticipated to emerge as a prominent tourism destination for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Prashant Naik, president of the Alibag Municipal Council, confirmed that the Rs 60-crore development received funding through the state government’s Special Grant Scheme for Unique and Special Projects in 2024. Designed across five distinct sections, the facility aims to provide visitors with “an engaging and immersive aquatic experience”.
The entrance and reception area will feature an artificial waterfall, leading into the first section, which will display aquatic animals in a zigzag arrangement. It will also include a rainforest-themed vivarium and a touch pool for closer interaction with aquatic life.
The second section will feature a 13-metre glass passageway, allowing visitors to walk through an underwater setting and observe fish swimming around them. Cylindrical tanks displaying jellyfish will also form part of this area.
The third section will accommodate utility facilities, while the fourth will house a lagoon-style pool designed for snorkelling and interaction with fish. The fifth zone will display different species of predatory aquatic animals. A cafeteria and dedicated selfie areas are also planned.
A senior IAS officer said the attraction would broaden Alibag’s tourism offerings beyond its beaches and water sports. “The oceanarium will add to the town’s beauty, and even children from Mumbai can visit it since there is no sign of an aquarium taking shape in Mumbai,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taraporewala Aquarium on Marine Drive has remained closed since the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, officials reportedly found structural deterioration in its ground-plus-three-storey building, following road excavation associated with the Mumbai Coastal Road project.
The 4,369.05-square-metre site also houses the fisheries commissioner’s office and a former water filtration and canteen structure.
Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane said the redevelopment process was nearly complete and that a consultant was expected to be appointed by January 2027.
Source: Hindustan Times
