Another tourist hotspot on cards

If you have always thought of Mumbai as the country's financial nerve centre, here's a fresh thought coming your way: You might consider holidaying in the city next year to enjoy the first showers of the monsoon.

Thanks to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the city could end up as a must-do on the tourist itinerary as well.

Plans are on the anvil for developing 4,000 hectares of land from Uthan on the Vasai creek all the way to Gorai and Manori as an exclusive recreational and tourist zone. While planning for the RTZ is still at a nascent stage, 242 hectares of land with the MTDC is likely to be transferred to the MMRDA.

Chandrashekhar, project director of MMRDA, said,  "We would like to develop this area along the lines of Disneyland in the US, with plenty of opportunities for water sports." This stretch of land has a mix of marshy, hilly and water front areas.

MMRDA has already invited tenders from international consultants on amusement parks for a feasibility study and is likely to finalise the contract in a month, Chandrashekhar said. Thus far, 30 companies have sent their expressions of interest.

Lands falling under different authorities such as the Mira-Bhayandar municipality, MCGM, and various gram panchayats are being mapped by MMRDA for the purpose. Much of the land is now protected as no development zones, coastal regulation zones and green zones. Once the RTZ comes up, developments along these lands will also become possible.

Currently, the area is also plagued by poor infrastructure such as poor road and ferry connectivity. MMRDA is drawing up plans to increase connectivity to the area as well as creating resorts and theme parks to attract potential tourists.

"Micro planning for the project, such as where to build roads, what kind of theme parks and the number of resorts, will be done after the feasibiity report from the international consultant comes in," said Chandrashekhar. The report is expected by the year-end.

And in the bargain, the city's dwindling mangroves could get a lease of life.

The entire stretch of mangroves from Vasai creek to Borivali could become one of the major attractions of the zone, Chandrashekhar indicated. The RTZ, he said, was a part of the Mumbai makeover plan approved by the state government.