₹775 Crore Facelift Masterplan Proposed for Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Mumbai: Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has proposed a ₹775 crore masterplan to give the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) a significant facelift. Speaking at an event on Saturday where he launched a second toy train at SGNP, Naik emphasized the plan's goal of attracting more tourists and improving facilities.

According to Naik, the revamp plan will include the development of a leopard safari in the park, along with upgrading the existing boating facilities, trekking trails, and e-ticketing services. Additionally, the plan aims to address the Dahisar river that flows within the park. Naik also mentioned that the state would use satellite technology and artificial intelligence to reduce man-animal conflicts. He added that the authorities would attach chips to monitor the movement of animals in the park. Currently, the SGNP is home to 13 tigers and five lions, including three lion cubs.

SGNP Director Anita Patil stated that the facelift is still at the proposal stage and is expected to be completed within two years. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and MP for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency, suggested that the state could develop the Kanheri and Mahamandapeshwar caves as global heritage sites. Goyal proposed that the caves could be revamped using a public-private partnership (PPP) model along the Buddhist trail to attract more tourists. He added that SGNP’s natural beauty should be leveraged to develop the park as a major tourist attraction in north Mumbai.

Addressing the event on Saturday, Naik also spoke about the rehabilitation of adivasis living in the SGNP. He stated that ‘pure adivasis’ would be rehabilitated in the first phase of the rehabilitation process. “Those who have houses along the boundary wall of the SGNP, which is being built, will be rehabilitated in the first phase,” Naik said.

Naik reiterated his proposal of shifting the SGNP adivasi community to one-plus-one row houses in 20 acres of Aarey. He added that Pravin Darekar had also suggested that SGNP residents be rehabilitated in a 40-acre plot near Dahisar Toll Plaza.

However, Devendra Thakur, the state president of the Birsa Munda Adivasi Shramik Sanghatana, raised concerns about the proposed plot for rehabilitation. Thakur stated that the plot was disputed and lacked a clear property title. “Who exactly is the ‘pure adivasi’ that the government is now talking about? Many from our adivasi community lack proper documentation to show that they are the original residents of the area. If the government really wants us to produce documentation, they should direct the collectors to lift the freeze on the issuance of new castes,” Thakur said.

The proposed revamp aims to enhance the visitor experience at SGNP while ensuring the conservation of the park's rich biodiversity and addressing the needs of the local adivasi community.