Mumbai has launched a new phase of public infrastructure and landscape improvement works in Aarey Colony, with authorities initiating nearly ₹15 crore worth of beautification projects across the ecologically sensitive zone. The move is positioned as part of a wider effort to rejuvenate one of the city’s most vital green lungs while enhancing its potential as a nature-focused tourism destination.
The latest push includes five separate beautification initiatives, alongside the inauguration of several internal roads completed under an earlier ₹67-crore development plan. Officials said the improved road network will enable smoother access across Aarey’s dispersed settlements and green pockets, reducing travel disruption for residents and visitors. A senior official from the Aarey administration noted that the renewed focus on public infrastructure follows years of civic demands for safer internal roads and upgraded public spaces. “Aarey has always been central to Mumbai’s environmental balance. Any investment here must strengthen both ecological resilience and community access,” the official said.
Tourism development in Aarey has remained a contentious topic, particularly after the Forest Department assumed control of the Aarey Lake precinct in 2020, resulting in restrictions on traditional immersion activities. Officials and urban planners believe the current beautification drive may help reposition the area as a low-impact, eco-friendly recreational space, aligning with Mumbai’s broader sustainability goals. The ₹15-crore allocation—initially approved by the District Planning Committee in 2023 for lake beautification—was restructured after permission delays risked the funds remaining unused. Government officials subsequently approved a revised plan allowing the investment to be redirected to multiple tourist-oriented public spaces.
Under the revised proposal, several works are now progressing simultaneously. These include Phase Two and Phase Three upgrades at Chhota Kashmir Garden, enhancement of the Veer Savarkar Garden in Aarey Milk Colony, renovation of the New Zealand Hostel campus, and improvements around the Ganesh Lake precinct. Public infrastructure specialists said the distributed approach ensures wider public benefit and reduces pressure on any single ecologically sensitive site. Urban planners observing the developments argue that the latest upgrades can contribute positively to Mumbai’s long-term environmental objectives if executed with strict ecological safeguards. “Aarey requires development that respects its biodiversity and hydrology. Tourism can coexist with conservation, but only with careful design and monitoring,” an environmental expert emphasised.
Residents and civic groups have also welcomed the new internal roads, describing them as long-needed interventions that will improve safety, especially during monsoon months. The earlier roadworks include stretches connecting Adarsh Nagar, the Royal Palms area, and a small bridge near Unit No. 11. Local representatives said these improvements enhance mobility for thousands who depend on Aarey’s road network for daily travel. As Mumbai continues to grapple with shrinking open spaces and rising climate vulnerabilities, the revitalisation of Aarey carries both symbolic and functional significance. Authorities have stated that the ongoing works aim to strengthen the area’s ecological character while improving public amenities. The outcomes, they said, will help preserve Aarey as a major urban green zone and provide residents with improved access to nature-rich public spaces.
Mumbai Launches Rs 15 Crore Aarey Colony Beautification Projects To Boost Green Tourism
