Residents of Bandra Reclamation demanded that the renowned Mumbai Eye project be moved outside of Bandra, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has acceded to their request.
The Bandra Reclamation Giant Observation Wheel project was moving forward when the development authority put out a request for proposals to hire a consultant. It has now changed the tender requirements, including the project site.
MMRDA has initiated the process of identifying a suitable site for Mumbai Eye project through a separate consultancy, the new condition states. It has delayed the tourism project by at least a few months because a suitable place needs to be found.
For the large observation wheel at Bandra Reclamation, which will be modelled after the London Eye, MMRDA has issued an invitation for applications on May 10 in order to recruit a project management consultant to conduct a technical feasibility assessment.
Ashish Shelar, the MLA for Bandra, supported the locals who have been protesting the project for the past three years. Traffic congestion, the fact that people visiting Mumbai Eye might view slums nearby, the high number of cars expected to visit the Ferris wheel, environmental concerns, and other factors were cited as reasons for rejection.
No section of the reclaimed land may be used for residential or commercial uses, according to the terms and conditions of the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ Environmental Clearance for the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Therefore, the residents had argued, having a project of this magnitude was obviously in breach of the approval that the state had obtained.
Shiv Sena politician Ravindra Waikar first proposed the concept of the Mumbai Eye in 2008. At the time, a location was recommended near Bandstand with a 650-foot-tall observation wheel already in place.
Shelar asserts that the MMRDA has the authority to relocate the project to the Mumbai Port Trust site, which is where the government intends to open it for general public use.
“We are relieved that ‘reason’ has taken priority in this issue and we are very grateful to our MLA for his continued support of our stand,” said Vidya Vaidya, chair of the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers’ Association (BRAVO).
The London Eye is a wheel that is situated on the south bank of the Thames and is 443 feet, or 135 metres, tall. The wheel, which draws 10,000 visitors each day, was created by architects David Marks, Julia Barfield, Malcolm Cook, Mark Sparrowhaw, Steven Chilton, and Nic Bailey. Riders can see the city while the 30-minute revolution is in motion. They can see up to 40 km out on a clear day. Every year, 30 lakh people visit the London Eye.
Over 70 lakh tourists are predicted to visit Mumbai Eye annually, with over 1 lakh coming on special occasions.