Kharghar park to open doors next week
When Complete, The 200-Acre Zone Will Be Much Bigger Than Jijamata Udyan………Chittaranjan Tembhekar
When Complete, The 200-Acre Zone Will Be Much Bigger Than Jijamata Udyan………Chittaranjan Tembhekar
Navi Mumbai: When Cidcos second annual Navi Mumbai festival begins on January 23, the city will have one more reason to celebratethe opening of the Central Park at Kharghar.
Although only the 100-acre Phase-I of the park will be inaugurated on the eve of Republic Day, it is more than twice the size of Mumbais biggest garden, the Jijamata Udyan, which is spread over 48 acres at Byculla. Eventually, when Phase-II , another 100 acres, is ready in two years, the garden will be one of Indias biggest public parks (see box).
But if one takes the 250 acre-golf course coming up across the road from the park and the 120 acres of non-garden area (mainly forest ) around the park, it will be the biggest recreational and amusement zone in the country, totalling 570 acres. However, Kharghars Central Park will take years to develop the tree cover of Jijamata Udyan.
A botanical garden, forested patches, sprawling lawns, theme parks, childrens play areas, musical fountains, an amphitheatre, food courts, a heritage museum , amusement and water parks are the main features of Central Park. However , the amphitheatre, which can seat 6,500 and the musical fountain, are the only big features which will be ready on the inaugural day.
This park will offset the criticism that Cidco is just another real estate firm in Navi Mumbai, said Sanjay Chaudhari, the superintending engineer, overseeing the work. Madav Consultants , who designed the 325-acre Anandsagar Park in Shegaon, are the designers of the Kharghar Park, the total cost which is amounting to Rs 125 crore.
Among the other features are lakes and canals, a conservatory for endangered plant species, a virtual herbarium for display of high-resolution photographs and database of various specimens, and miniature models of prominent forts in Maharashtra.
Among the other features are lakes and canals, a conservatory for endangered plant species, a virtual herbarium for display of high-resolution photographs and database of various specimens, and miniature models of prominent forts in Maharashtra.
The park will have five parking lots which can accommodate 800 cars. It will also have five battery-run golf carts for the elderly and the handicapped.
* MAJOR ATTRACTION: The Central Park at Kharghar will be the biggest recreational and amusement zone in the country
SPACED OUT
Park Acres
Central Park, NY 843
Hyde Park, London 625
Anandsagar Garden, Shegaon 325
Botanical Garden, Kolkata 273
Central Park, Kharghar 200
Vrindavan Gardens, Mysore 150
Jijamata Udyan, Byculla 48
Park Acres
Central Park, NY 843
Hyde Park, London 625
Anandsagar Garden, Shegaon 325
Botanical Garden, Kolkata 273
Central Park, Kharghar 200
Vrindavan Gardens, Mysore 150
Jijamata Udyan, Byculla 48