Now Experience North Pole Feel in City; Snow World on the Cards

5th Nov, 2017 2017

Thane: The municipal corporation is working towards recreating the sub-zero terrains of the polar region within the humid confines of the lake city, by developing a snow world theme park in Kolshet.

Image source: pixabay.com

As per plans, the project spread over 20,000 square metre area is proposed to be undertaken on a plot reserved for a garden. Besides the entertainment options, it will also disseminate vital information about the glacial ranges with an aim to educate and inform the children.

The premises will have information capsuled with entertainment kits to keep the children engaged and also create a scope for earning revenue for the administration, informed an official.

A part of the premises will have enclosed play zone that will recreate the North pole ambience complete with maintaining subzero temperature and even features like igloos, mini snow hills, etc (see box for details).

Officials said ensuring subzero temperature in the humid climate of Thane could be a tad difficult, but the same is likely to be achieved using eco-friendly methods. We have insisted the structure for the park also be built using norms laid for green buildings, informed an official. The stress will be on use of non-conventional sources of energy like wind, solar and will also encourage use of rain water harvesting, vermicomposting and even solid waste management.

The park is one of the several theme parks proposed by the commissioner in his budget speech early this year to be developed in various parts of the city. The general body had recently approved the proposal and the administration is in the process of inviting tenders for the same in the coming weeks.

The cost of developing the park is around Rs 60 crore and will be developed on a public private partnership (PPP) basis. The TMC will only give land for the project and will also earn a fixed revenue every year from the contractor who will be responsible for construction and maintenance of the park for the next 30 years, informed an official. A business centre will also be part of the initiative that can hold events for commercial events which officials say will be a major source of income in addition to the ticket sales from visitors.

However, elected representatives have questioned the logic of earning revenue at the cost of leasing out prime plots in the city for commercial endeavors. "The need of the hour is to develop more open spaces and not constructing such enclosed structures that will add to the strain on the corporation coffers. There are huge swathes of amenity plot lying unused in my ward that can be used for developing playgrounds or parks which is required for the growing population here, lamented a corporator.

Activists pointed out how the administration was busy gifting open lands to private players under the guise of development citing examples of a club near Raheja Gardens and a swimming pool at Kopri. "The administration must stress on providing entertainment zones in the city at affordable rates and not simply look at plots as money spinning opportunities," complained an activist.

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com