Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo is set to add a Rs 62 crore walk-through aquarium, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation targeting completion by January 2027 as construction and installation work continues at the Rani Baug complex.
The aquarium will feature two acrylic tunnels measuring 14 metres and 36 metres, allowing visitors to walk through underwater structures and view marine life from different angles. The facility is spread across approximately 5,500 square feet and is planned to display more than 60 marine species, including coral fish and species found in the Indian Ocean.
A BMC official said about half of the work had been completed. Glass for the tunnels was received about a month before the report, while installation of the permanent structures was under way. The official said January 2027 had been proposed as the completion target, but the final timeline would depend on the progress of the remaining works.
The aquarium will have a 1-million-litre life-support system and on-site filtration facilities to maintain water quality. Officials said the species selection had been completed, with the planned display expected to focus on marine life found in Indian waters. The civic body will float a tender to procure the aquatic species.
The project is part of the ongoing expansion and upgrade of facilities at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Rani Baug. The zoo receives between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors on a regular day, while holiday footfall can rise to nearly 20,000, according to the report.
BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide recently reviewed the progress of the aquarium project along with the ongoing expansion of the penguin enclosure. The enclosure is being upgraded to accommodate 40 penguins, up from its existing capacity of 21.
Officials said the civic body was also examining additional aquarium concepts, including a ceiling aquarium and a cylindrical tank. The walk-through facility would be a new type of attraction for the city, they said, and could draw significant visitor interest once operational.
The BMC has not yet decided whether visitors will have to pay a separate entry charge for the aquarium. Since the facility is being developed within the same premises as the Humboldt penguin enclosure, the civic body is still examining the ticketing arrangement. The penguins, introduced to Byculla Zoo from South Korea in 2016, have become the zoo’s biggest attraction and contribute significantly to its visitor footfall and revenue.
The next major steps are the completion of the remaining construction work, installation of the tunnel structures, procurement of aquatic species through tender and a final decision on the aquarium’s entry charges and opening schedule.
