150 acres of water body to be beautified into recreational space at Nerul holding pond

To the delight of Navi Mumbaikars, the satellite city is soon going to be gifted with an entertainment and recreational centre at the water body at sector 26 of Nerul. The NMMC General Body approved the estimated expenditure of Rs 98.40 crores for beautification of this holding pond adjacent to the Palm Beach Road.

Have you ever wanted to just have a small picnic spot with barbecues, or go for a leisure walk amongst greenery or just sit by a lake and watch the sunset? Well if you probably miss out on this if you are a resident of Navi Mumbai. But if NMMC does translate one of its ambitious projects for Navi Mumbai, all this could be a reality for Navi Mumbaikars. For the civic body has decided to beautify the 150 acres water body and its surroundings in Sector 26 Nerul adjacent to Palm Beach Road. NMMC Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik says that there aim is to develop the water bodies of the city making them into a tourist destination.

The proposed plan, map and amenities for recreation and entertainment has been designed by Hiten Sethi and Associates as also the estimated cost which is Rs 98.40 crores. Hiten Sethi, CEO of Hiten Sethi and Associates says that in this particular plan, they have tried to retain the mangrove stretch and the water body and designed around it. In fact the storm water drain would also be re-routed to avoid the smell near the water body.

Hiten Sethi stressed that there is a need to develop iconic structures in the city. This one would definitely account for that as they plan to give the structure a crystal kind of look and would be calling it the Jewel of Navi Mumbai. The proposed beautification plan includes an entrance plaza, parking facility, toilets, walkways, jogging track, food plaza, exhibition ground, gymnasium, swimming pool, health spa, indoor games facility, hotel, party lawn, aquarium, sand pit, butterfly garden, botanical garden, picnic park and gardens.

The unique feature and the main tourist attraction is likely to be the bailagio which works on the fire on water concept. While the work on the basic infrastructure would be done in the first phase, the beautification of the water body is proposed to be done through the Public Private Partnership. Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik voiced confidence of the work that Hiten Sethi will do and says that since the project will be made on PPP basis, it would also generate revenue for NMMC.
NMTV News