INDIA. Mumbai: On Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated a 475-square-meter amphitheater-style viewing deck at Girgaum Chowpatty in South Mumbai, which cost Rs 2.5 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Sanjiv Kumar, and others were among those present.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation came up with the concept of erecting a viewing deck in Girgaum in August of last year.
From the deck, located towards the north end of the Chowpatty, tourists can sit on the stairs and enjoy an unobstructed view of the Arabian Sea, Girgaum Chowpatty, and Marine Drive, also known as ‘Queen’s Necklace’.
The gallery is on a slope structured with steps, giving it an amphitheater look. The gallery also has landscapes, new paver blocks, and benches. It has been erected taking into consideration the height and pressure of the waves and other technical issues. The gallery can accommodate over 300 people at a time.
On the occasion, Aditya Thackeray proposed the name of the gallery over the name of Shivsena leader late Pramod Navalkar, who had carried out a considerable amount of development work in the area in his tenure as an MLC.
DCM Ajit Pawar said that the people will be able to view this picturesque spot, instead of dirt, while proceeding towards Raj Bhavan. Besides, during the high tide, they will get the feel of standing in the sea, from this deck. One such deck has already been set up in Dadar and many more such projects are underway under the leadership of Aditya Thackeray, he added.
This is the second viewing deck and overall, the fourth one in Mumbai. A viewing tower has already been set up at the revamped Mahim beach, which was inaugurated by Aditya Thackeray in September last year. A similar viewing deck was inaugurated at Dadar Chowpatty adjoining the Chaityabhoomi grounds on February 9.
The deck at CSMT opposite BMC in South Mumbai is another spot that offers a spectacular view of the CSMT railway station, a world heritage UNESCO site. The oldest deck at Malabar Hill, atop the water reservoir, in South Mumbai offers the best view of the Queen’s necklace and the surrounding area.
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