MMRDA to shift Mumbai Eye from Bandra Reclamation

It comes as a good News for Bandra residents MMRDA to shift Mumbai Eye site In a new development MMRDA decides to shift the location of Mumbai Eye from Bandra Reclamation following opposition by residents and BJP MLA Ashish Shelar on the grounds that this tourist attraction would worsen the traffic situation in this part of the city. On May 10, MMRDA reportedly, had invited applications to appoint a project management consultant to carry out a technical feasibility study for the giant observation wheel at Bandra Reclamation, on the lines of the London Eye. However, this did not go well with the Local residents who accompanied by Aashish Shelar, approached MMRDA to demand to move the proposed out of the vicinity of Bandra Reclamation due to fear of traffic chaos. They even made suggestions for alternate sites in non-residential areas such as Mumbai Port Trust, Bandra-Kurla Complex and Ballard Estate. As per a senior MMRDA official said, they have issued a corrigendum and now have asked the prospective applicants to suggest other feasible locations across Mumbai. The idea of Mumbai Eye was first mooted in 2008 by Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar. At that time around, the location was suggested near Bandstand with an observatory wheel installed at height of 650 feet. The wheel of the London Eye stands 443 feet or 135 metres tall and is nestled on the south bank of the river Thames. Designed by architects David Marks, Julia Barfield, Malcolm Cook, Mark Sparrowhaw, Steven Chilton and Nic Bailey, the wheel attracts 10,000 people every day. Amid the 30-minute revolution, riders can get a panoramic view of the metropolitan city. On a clear day, they can see as far as 40km in all directions. London Eye receives 30 lakh visitors per year whereas Mumbai Eye is estimated to receive more than 70 lakh visitors per year and over 1 lakh on festive days. News input KV Raman