Latest news with #AadityaThackeray
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Country's first mangrove park at Gorai set to open in next two months; entry won't be free
The country's first mangrove park, which is being constructed at Gorai at a cost of over Rs 33 crore, will have an entry fee, officials said. The park is in the final stages of construction and will be opened for the public in the next two months most likely before August 15, the officials added. The park, sprawling over 8 hectares in Gorai village, is being built by the Mangrove Cell of the state government. The park will comprise several elements that will enable visitors to walk through, experience and learn about the mangrove ecosystem and learn about its unique biodiversity. A key feature of the park is a 750-metre-long wooden boardwalk that traverses through mangroves. At the end of the walkway lies a viewing deck, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding creek. Similar to the newly opened nature trail in Malabar Hills, this elevated walkway was built without disturbing the mangrove ecosystem. 'We have sent a proposal to the state government to implement an entry fee. The revenue generated will be used on maintenance and upkeep of the park. The proposal is yet to be cleared by the government following which ticket rates will be fixed,' said a senior official from the state forest department. 'At present, the final stages of construction are in progress like polishing the surface, final painting works and setting up lighting and other ancillary details. We expect these works to be completed in the next one month. After that the park will be opened to the public,' the official said. Built at a cost of Rs 33.43 crore, construction began in 2021 and the project was earmarked as a forest reserve. For bird watchers, the project also has an 18-metre-tall watch tower, allowing visitors to observe the avian species that thrive in the area. The watchtower also offers expansive views of the mangroves and creek. Also, in a bid to impart vital education and recreation, the Mangrove Cell has also constructed a two-storey Nature Interpretation Centre. Here, visitors can read and learn about mangroves and its biodiversity through informative boards, panels, and books at the library and information centre. Additionally, the structure will feature a rooftop restaurant and a nature-themed gift shop. To ensure minimal impact on the fragile fauna and flora, the project was executed with eco-friendly materials, solar energy and elevated walkways. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and former environment minister, took to his social media profile X and claimed the project was originally mooted by him. 'Hearing that this Mangrove Park in Gorai that we started work on in October 2021, will finally be open to everyone soon. Happy to see that just like the Tree Top walk in Malabar Hill, Urban Forest in Marol that I had the honour and privilege to initiate as Minister in the MVA, this too, something I kickstarted, will open up soon for people,' he said in his post.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Join hands to save this city': Aaditya Thackeray to Mumbaikars
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday launched the party's mobilisation campaign titled 'Ladha Aaplya Mumbaicha' (Fight for our Mumbai), where he expressed the need to fight for Mumbai on the lines of the historic Samyukta Maharashtra movement in the 1950s. 'They (the BJP) want to take away Mumbai from the Marathi manoos and gift it to Adani,' he said. 'Come and join the battle to save this city.' Aaditya was speaking at a gathering at Kalidas Auditorium in Mulund, where he made a presentation to show how lands across Mulund, Kurla, Malvani and Deonar had been allocated to the Adani group in the name of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. 'All Dharavi residents should get homes in Dharavi only and not elsewhere,' he said, adding that the BJP, to 'serve its master', wanted to hand over Mumbai to him. Hitting out at the BJP-Adani liaison, Aaditya said that to clean up the Deonar dumping ground for Adani's Dharavi project, the BMC would have to spend over ₹2,000 crore. 'And to recover this money, the BMC has proposed to levy a garbage collection tax on Mumbai's citizens,' he said. Referring to Eknath Shinde by his Thackeray-given moniker Bhrashtanath Mindhe (Corrupt and Subservient), he alleged that he had played a role in the BJP's plan to give Mumbai to Adani. Pointing out that Monday was the anniversary of Hindu king Chhatrapati Shivaji, Aaditya lamented that it was also a time when Mumbai, Maharashtra and the Marathi manoos were in danger. 'As they failed in their plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, they are now conspiring to take it from the Marathi manoos by handing the city to the Adani group,' he said. Aaditya emphasised that once the city fell into the hands of a businessman, the people's representatives would have no control. 'So we will have to fight for Mumbai like we did during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. This fight is not of a political party but of all Mumbaikars. Come and join it to save Mumbai,' said Aaditya in what sounded like the Sena (UBT')s campaign theme for the upcoming BMC polls. The Mumbai civic polls are crucial for the Sena (UBT), which suffered a serious setback in last year's assembly elections, winning only 20 seats in the state, 10 of these in Mumbai. The BMC has been the Shiv Sena's and Thackeray family's source of strength and influence for decades. Aaditya also pointed out how all his allegations regarding corruption in the BMC and infrastructure projects in Mumbai had turned out to be true. 'I was the first to raise my voice on the cement road scam,' he said. 'Today, we can all see the condition of the roads and the quality of work. In October 2024, I warned about corruption in the Thane-Borivali belt, and now the Supreme Court has forced the authorities to cancel the tender.' Aaditya clarified that his party had no personal conflict with anyone, including Adani. 'But if you charge at Mumbai, we will stand in front of you, we will fight and we will win,' he said.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Will oppose redevelopment project until everyone gets 500 sq ft houses in Dharavi: Aaditya Thackeray
Days after the state government approved the masterplan of Dharavi Slum Redevelopment Project, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said his party would oppose the project until and unless all residents are guaranteed 500sqft homes in Dharavi and all the residents are declared eligible for free rehabilitation. Thackeray also demanded that the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Dharavi be granted the same status as Gujarat's GIFT City, claiming that Mumbai was being sidelined in favour of Gujarat and GIFT city was moved to Gujarat from Mumbai's BKC. Addressing a rally in Mulund, Thackeray alleged that the redevelopment plan would lead to large-scale displacement and benefit private players at the expense of long-time Dharavi residents. 'Our party's stand is very clear.. Every resident of Dharavi must get a 500 sqft house. If all residents are not made eligible, we will not allow them to be moved out of Dharavi,' said Thackeray at the 'Ladha Aaplya Mumbaicha' (fight for our Mumbai) campaign organised by the Sena UBT ahead of the BMC elections. Thackeray added that the current plan recognizes only those who settled before 2000 while many with documents dated after 2011 are likely to be excluded from rehabilitation and free houses in Dharavi. According to the eligibility criteria, for people to get homes, ground-floor residents who settled in Dharavi before January 1, 2000, will be eligible for a 350sqft home within Dharavi at no cost. Those who settled between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011, will receive a 300sqft home outside Dharavi at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Residents who live in upper-floor structures built before November 15, 2022, and ground-floor tenements constructed between January 1, 2011, and November 15, 2022, will be offered rented accommodations outside Dharavi. These residents will also have the option of a hire-purchase scheme for 300 sqft homes. At the rally, Thackeray also raised objections to the proposed use of Deonar dumping ground and other land parcels given for the Dharavi redevelopment project. 'The BMC had clearly stated that the land cannot be given unless it is cleaned first. It is not suitable for people to live there,' he said. He also criticised the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, questioning why the route was designed to benefit Gujarat rather than linking Mumbai to other parts of Maharashtra.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Can Align With Any Party Working For Maharashtra's Interest: Aaditya Thackeray
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and "Marathi manoos". The statement comes amid speculation of rapprochement between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and his cousin Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Aaditya Thackeray accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. Injustice was being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP, he alleged. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to work in the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people)," the Sena (UBT) MLA said. "Our responsibility is to bring in a change. Any party that is working to protect the interests of Maharashtra needs to come together and fight," the former state minister said to a question on the possibility of an alliance between the MNS and the Sena (UBT). The Thackeray cousins have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with their recent statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways. While Raj Thackeray has said uniting in the interest of "Marathi manoos" is not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray has insisted he is ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra's interests are not entertained.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Ready to align with any party working for interest of Maharashtra: Aaditya
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and "Marathi manoos". The statement comes amid speculation of rapprochement between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and his cousin Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Aaditya Thackeray accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. Injustice was being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP, he alleged. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to work in the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people)," the Sena (UBT) MLA said. "Our responsibility is to bring in a change. Any party that is working to protect the interests of Maharashtra needs to come together and fight," the former state minister said to a question on the possibility of an alliance between the MNS and the Sena (UBT). The Thackeray cousins have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with their recent statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways. While Raj Thackeray has said uniting in the interest of "Marathi manoos" is not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray has insisted he is ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra's interests are not entertained.
